AN: Hello guys! I'm sorry for the sudden disappearance on last week's update, I was having a really rough week and didn't manage to get a chapter out. That said, I am going to start changing my update schedule to something more feasible (probably an update every two weeks or so). I apologize if this is disappointing for anyone, but for the sake of my mental health and the story quality, I think this is for the better.
Also, there's a bit of a reference to my discontinued fic "Concerto of Moonlight" in this story, along with some guest appearances of some characters from Ouran High School Host Club. If you've never watched that anime, it shouldn't really detract from your reading experience, since they only make minor cameos, and this isn't a crossover fic because they barely appear. But I had this interesting Valentine's Day scene in mind involving one of the hosts and it actually made for an interesting plot twist. That said, my usual disclaimer is now a bit longer than usual.
Disclaimer: I don't own Fruits Basket or Ouran High School Host Club/Any of the characters I use from either anime. All rights go to their respective owners.
(I do own Murasaki, but I'm happy to donate her to Yuki Soma. He can have her, loll).
Following the fitness run, life returns to a recognizable version of normal.
Sharing notes, quietly commenting on their respective light reading books, homework help, student council meetings, everything falls back into an almost deceptive normalcy. But, below the surface, it is clear to both parties involved that something has changed.
The space that used to be there is gone, and the absence is both thrilling and nerve wracking.
~.~
"Why are we all gathering around Yuki's shoe locker?" Murasaki asks one morning as she joins Tohru, Uou, and Hana by the locker. Yuki is standing behind them, looking a bit bemused, as if their candid energy has swept him away this morning. Murasaki decides to stand beside him in silent sympathy. It's undeniable that she has rather energetic friends.
"Well, we were hoping to see that thing, like in anime, where all the chocolate comes pouring out of the locker," Uou says, eyeing the single bag of chocolates in Yuki's locker with unmasked disappointment. It's at this point that Murasaki notices Hana looking in a different direction, and follows the girl's gaze, eyes landing on the trashcan nearby.
It's filled to the brim, overflowing, with chocolates.
Murasaki snorts, choking on her laughter.
"They're all cuckoo birds," Hana begins to say, but at this point, Murasaki isn't listening. She's trying too hard not to burst out laughing and make a scene.
"Saki? What's so funny?" Yuki asks, tilting his head at her in confusion.
"Just... just keep listening to Hana, she's got the right idea," Murasaki manages to get out in between chokes of laughter.
Soon enough, everyone is on the same page, staring at the nearby trashcan in mixtures of horror and mirth.
"Wow, these girls are vicious," Uou whistles.
"You're right, it's full of chocolates!" Tohru exclaims.
"And I will be the watchful eagle, here to capture the last chocolates," Hana murmurs, picking up the lone bag of chocolates in Yuki's locker and opening it.
"Um-"
"I think those are-"
"It's fine, she can have them," Yuki murmurs with a sweatdrop.
"Oh, Saki-chan! You shouldn't have!"
"Wow, Saki, these look great."
"Raspberry and chocolate are a most delicious combination."
Murasaki sighs in relief. She'd been up all night making Valentine's Day chocolates for Tohru, Uou, and Hana, and now that they're gathered in their classroom, desks pushed together for the lunch break, it's a relief to see that all of the hard work has paid off.
"I'm glad you like them," Murasaki smiles, and it's just then that they hear a feminine voice nervously saying something that sounds like "Kyon-kun!" across the classroom.
All four girls turn to see a student from a different class nervously holding out a bag of chocolates to Kyo, who seems to be staring at the bag in a mixture of surprise and horror.
"What a player," Uou laughs teasingly, as the unnamed girl leaves the chocolates on Kyo's desk and dashes out of the classroom bashfully. Murasaki giggles at the look on Kyo's face.
"It's like he's seen a ghost," she chuckles, popping one of her own chocolates into her mouth.
Huh, these did turn out really well.
"Hey, Kyo, looks like you've got an admi-"
"Is today … Valentine's day?" Kyo asks, his voice nothing more than a quiet whisper of unadulterated fear. Everyone within earshot frowns in confusion.
"Uh, dude, it's technically tomorrow but-"
"I'm going home!" Kyo shouts, standing up suddenly. Murasaki startles at the outburst, nearly falling out of her chair, but a pair of hands steadies her. It's Yuki, in the seat directly behind her. She wonders how long he's been sitting there.
"Don't hurt yourself on account of that idiot," Yuki murmurs, and she chuckles nervously, a blush creeping its way up her cheeks.
"Th-thanks. So, uh, what's got him so worked up?" she asks Yuki, twisting in her chair slightly to face him, and subsequently missing the internal conflict happening in Kyo's direction.
"You'll see. I have a feeling she'll show up by the end of today," Yuki says cryptically.
~.~
She doesn't have to wait long to find out what he means.
It's the end of the school day, and Yuki and Murasaki have just finished up cleaning the classroom when she spots a girl running at breakneck speed towards a familiar carrot-top head down in the courtyard.
"Hey Yuki, who's that?" Murasaki asks, pointing. Yuki leans over her shoulder, looking, and the tips of his hair tickle her ear. She feels her heart skip a beat.
"Ah, so she is here. That's Kagura, our cousin. She's rather fond of the idiot cat, but at time she can be rather-"
Murasaki's face morphs from an expression of curiosity to one of horror as Kagura begins to bash Kyo's body into the ground with violent fervor.
"-passionate."
"Is he… that looks…" Murasaki murmurs in horror.
"Don't worry, idiots are incredibly durable," Yuki says nonchalantly, before moving away to pick up his school bag and make his way to the door. And though she's reluctant to admit it, Murasaki briefly finds herself missing his closeness.
"A double date?"
"Really, Yuki, is the idea so foreign to you?" Shigure sighs annoyingly. Yuki exhales in exasperation, taking a seat at their dining table.
"I know what it means, Shigure, but I hardly think Honda-san would enjoy a spending her day with-"
"A date? Really? I've never been on a date before," Tohru says excitedly, eyes sparkling, and Yuki narrows his eyes at Shigure. Cheeky bastard, manipulating everyone to protect his house from property damage.
But, seeing Tohru's innocent, excited, hopeful face, Yuki finds himself unable to say no.
"If it would make you happy," Yuki says with a sigh and a tired smile.
Tohru nods energetically while Kagura squeals in excitement, squeezing the living daylights out of Kyo. It can't possibly be too horrible, Yuki reasons. Apart from having to babysit Kagura and Kyo, spending the afternoon with Honda-san couldn't be unpleasant in the least.
But some part of Yuki protests this idea. Some part of him knows there's someone else he'd rather be spending the day with.
"You want me to what?"
"~It's just dinner, dear, and besides, aren't you friends with Kyoya-kun? Just wear something nice, be nice, and have fun!~"
Murasaki moves the phone away from her face for a moment so that she can whisper some expletives before responding.
"Mom, Kyoya probably has much more important things to do than to go on a date with the likes of me. Besides, we're just friends."
"~Well, friends or not, his parents have made it quite clear that he's perfectly happy to spend his Valentine's Day evening with you. They've already made the reservations to the restaurant, which is conveniently close to your apartment, might I add. Really, the Ootoris are just so thoughtful-~"
"Alright, alright, fine. Where are we having dinner?" Murasaki sighs, pinching the bridge of her nose.
"~It's a French restaurant on the top floor of that department store near you. Your father and I have arranged a driver for you to get there. We won't send a stylist this time, since it's a more private affair. Wear something formal, maybe that dress you wore for your last recital along with the silver heels.~"
Murasaki wrinkles her nose at the mere thought. That purple monstrosity that she wore to her last recital will never again see the lights of day. She'll have to figure out something else.
"Okay. What time?"
"~Six pm, dear. Do try to have a good time, and give Kyoya-kun our thanks for the Ootori family's generosity. Oh, I've got to go, your father needs me for a business meeting. We love you, take care!~"
"Bye, Mom. I love you too."
Murasaki sighs as her phone beeps, indicating the call has ended.
In reality, a date with Kyoya Ootori wouldn't be that bad. They've been friends since middle school, when their families inevitably met during the fickle and unavoidable process of networking, but despite the ulterior motives of parents attempting to build good social reputations, she and Kyoya formed a surprisingly genuine bond. Maybe it was a shared sense of exasperation at their situations. Or perhaps it was simply the recognition of equal intellect. They would never know. But now, she and Kyoya are both first year high school students, and despite being on vastly different campuses living vastly different lifestyles, they keep in touch.
So really, it wouldn't be too bad to spend a night having dinner with Kyoya, and perhaps catching a movie.
But some part of Murasaki knows that there's someone else she'd rather be spending her night with.
"Good morning."
"Good morning."
Yuki smiles slightly at Murasaki's ever-swaying ponytail as they begin their run. Saturday being February 14th, as it turns out, doesn't rock the boat enough to warrant any change in their workout routine.
"How are you fairing after yesterday?" Murasaki asks Yuki teasingly, and he grimaces, remembering the almost predatory stares he was getting from many of the girls in class.
"I'm fairing better than the trash can by our shoe lockers," he admits, and that earns him one of her laughs.
"And you?" he asks as they round the first corner.
"I'm fairing just swell. The raspberry truffles I gave Tohru, Uou, and Hana weren't inedible, so I think Valentine's is going swimmingly for me."
Yuki laughs.
"You're the only person in the world who would use the word "swimmingly" in this context."
"I like to think of myself as a poet," Murasaki throws back.
Yuki can't help but wonder what those raspberry truffles tasted like, but perhaps it's for the better that he didn't get any chocolates from Murasaki.
He's mildly allergic to raspberries.
"So, does Mr. Prince of the High School have any special plans for Valentine's day?" Murasaki goes on to ask, slightly more out of breath now. They've just reached the top of a small hill.
"Well my cousin, Kagura, came over yesterday to ask Kyo out on a date. Somehow, Tohru and I also got wrapped up in it, and it's a double date, I suppose. All things considered, it might be for the better. Lord knows what would happen if we left that stupid cat alone with Kagura," Yuki mutters, voice becoming increasingly more irritated as he speaks.
"Is this the Kagura you told me about? The one who we saw yesterday through the classroom window?"
"Yes, I'm surprised you remember."
They round another corner. This street is uphill, and it's best just to spring it and get it over with. They do, and are rendered completely out of breath by the time they reach the top.
"She's... hard to forget," Murasaki struggles to say between breaths. "She did... attack him... while wearing a teddy bear backpack."
Yuki can't help but laugh at that.
When they arrive at her home, as they always do since Yuki's asthma attack, they stop for tea.
After she and Yuki take turns washing up a little, Murasaki immediately skips her way into the kitchen, and Yuki follows her, as he's begun to do in the past few weeks. Sitting around made him feel awkward, so he took to offering his help, and by now he has a good sense of where all of her chilled drinks are.
"Oh, Yuki, could you grab me the-"
Murasaki grimaces, voice disappearing mid-sentence as she realizes what Yuki has discovered.
"It looks like I'm not the only one with plans for Valentine's Day," Yuki teases, nodding towards the chocolates sitting in her refrigerator. They're neatly stacked in a tiny pyramid of five, each one a small sphere of dark chocolate decorated with what looks to be streaks of white chocolate.
Murasaki bites her lip, chuckling.
"Oh, I'm ... actually, those are for you," she says.
The teasing smile melts off of Yuki's face, replaced by a tiny blush.
"Oh."
"I couldn't get them to you yesterday because washing all of my equipment with the raspberry sauce on it took too long. I made those this morning," she admits, reaching past him to get to the fridge.
Yuki frowns as what she's just said sinks in.
"Saki, we started running at 9 am."
"Early bird catches the worm. Besides, working with lemon juice first thing in the morning is super refreshing!"
She takes the chocolates and a jug of barley tea out of the fridge before he can get a word in edgewise.
"It's not exactly the most conventional combination, but I figured you'd like lemon truffles better than raspberry even if you were having them with barley tea," she continues to say, pouring them a few glasses of the aforementioned drink before holding the plate of chocolates out to Yuki.
He takes one of the chocolates, slightly dumbfounded as he takes a careful bite.
It's delicious, in an unconventional way. Bitter and a little bit sour, with a strong undercurrent of sweetness.
"What do you think?" she asks as she continues to put away the pitcher of barley tea and tidy up her kitchen a little. He carefully swallows the rest of the chocolate, covering his mouth a little self-consciously, before reaching for his glass of barley tea.
"They're delicious. Frankly, I think Honda-san and the others may have been missing out with the raspberry ones," he murmurs.
"Ah, good."
"But, Saki, how did you know that I'm allergic to raspberries? I don't even think I've told Tohru about that."
Yuki steps out into the slightly less confined space of her living room, tea in one hand, plate of chocolates in the other.
There's only four chocolates left and he's quite honestly tempted to eat all of them. They're really and truly delicious.
Murasaki follows him out and plops herself neatly onto one of her square floor cushions.
"Well, I knew that at the very least you must dislike raspberries, the fact that you're allergic is just a lucky guess. When we have student council meetings in the mornings, the only time you don't eat the provided breakfast is when it's raspberry jelly donuts. And when it's lemon jelly donuts, you always eat at least two."
Yuki laughs lightly.
"I almost feel like you're exposing my gluttony," he half chuckles, half sighs, which earns him one of Murasaki's lovely laughs.
Here I thought I was the only one noticing all of the details when secretly, she's been paying attention the whole time.
I wonder what else she knows, he thinks.
"Saki."
Murasaki looks up from her glass of barley tea.
"Yeah?"
"Thank you. For the chocolates, they're lovely."
Like you. He almost says.
The honesty and directness of his thought startles him. Since when has he...?
"I'm glad you like them. And I hope you enjoy your date tonight," she replies with a smile. He smiles in turn, his stomach fluttering.
I'd rather be going with you, just you.
Really, his thoughts are actually starting to scare him.
"I'm fairly certain Tohru and I will spend more time trying to keep Kagura and Kyo from destroying anything than actually enjoying anything," Yuki sighs. "How about you? Any plans for today?"
Yuki immediately notices how Murasaki's posture shifts, how nervous she suddenly looks.
"Uh, yeah. I have... a date tonight," she says, looking down into her glass.
A pretty blush blooms across her cheeks, and Yuki's chest clenches.
Suddenly, those chocolates seem a lot less appealing. Actually, Yuki finds his appetite completely absent.
"I see. Likewise, I hope you enjoy your date tonight," Yuki says. "Who's ... who's the lucky guy?"
"An old friend, from middle school. We used to hang out a lot before I moved."
"I ... see. Well, I hope you enjoy yourself."
Yuki clenches his fists. This is ridiculous. Few people have the capability to annoy him to this degree, and he never thought Murasaki would ever cause this reaction but-
No. It's not her. It's just her easy smile, her nervous body language, as she thinks about her date. Whoever this guy is, making her act all girly and shy and cute.
I hope this guy is a terrible date.
Yuki bites his lip, disgusted. He feels like she's going on a date with Kyo or something.
Murasaki sighs for the millionth time later that afternoon, replaying her conversation with Yuki in her mind as she struggles to figure out what to wear.
Where did I go wrong? One minute he seemed perfectly happy, and the next he had that look on his face that he gets whenever Kyo challenges him to a duel.
She frowns at both her inexplicable misstep with Yuki and her outfit choices.
Hm, perhaps she should ask Kyoya what to wear instead. Murasaki pulls her phone out of her back pocket, scrolling down to her text messages with Kyoya. She thinks for a moment before crafting the message.
~.~
Murasaki: Hey, what color tie will you unfortunately be forced to wear? Trying to make sure we don't clash.
Kyoya: Grey suit, blue tie with red pinstripes. Trying to match already? Little early, isn't it?
Murasaki: You misunderstand. I just think if we're going to start a tabloid scandal, I want to make sure we look good doing it.
Kyoya: Fair enough. In that case, please note the particular shades of grey and blue.
[Picture attached]
Murasaki: Right, hideous orange dress it is.
Kyoya: In that case, shall I opt for the green tie you gifted me for Christmas?
Murasaki: The velvet one? Oh please (don't).
Kyoya: Very well, blue it is. I look forward to seeing you tonight.
Murasaki: Little early for that, Kyoya.
Kyoya: Never too early, Murasaki-san.
~.~
Murasaki rolls her eyes, but smiles. Kyoya is one of the few friends she's held onto from her life before leaving Tokyo, and she's honestly glad they've kept in touch. Despite his cool, calculated nature, he knows how to make a girl laugh when she needs it.
Murasaki exhales, eyeing her closet. What to wear ... ah. Ah, this will do, this will do very nicely.
A few hours, a lot of makeup and hair-curling, a slight burn on her earlobe, and some annoying high heels later, Murasaki is out the door of the apartment and in the car that her family hired. She's pleased to recognize the driver as the one who would often take her to school.
They make light conversation on the way. How she's been. How he's been. How his kids are. How school is for her.
He mentions that her parents miss her. That they talk about her incessantly, that they worry about her incessantly.
The drive is quieter after that.
~.~
They arrive at a huge department building.
"The restaurant is on the top floor. Would you like me to walk you there, Miss Murasaki?" the driver asks.
"Nono, that's quite alright. Thank you for driving me, goodness knows it would have been quite a walk in these heels," she says, opening the car door carefully. She gives the driver a small smile and a nod.
"It was my pleasure. Take care, Miss Murasaki," he says.
She exits the car feeling slightly less nervous about the whole affair. It's just Kyoya. What could go wrong?
When Murasaki Kaname walks into the restaurant, Kyoya Ootori is struck by two simultaneous thoughts.
The first is that it was a very smart choice on her part to pick a red dress, a choice which accents the red pinstripes on his tie. If there's one thing he's always given her credit for, it is an impeccable sense of style. (One that they both possess and often use as a common medium for jokes and minor pranks. Hence the velvet tie.)
The second is that he has never seen her look quite so nice. A year away from home has done wonders for her complexion. In fact, she looks rather radiant.
"Good evening," he smiles, extending his elbow. She raises a brow in response, but takes his arm nonetheless.
"Don't you 'good evening' me, Kyoya. We both know how uncomfortable these shoes are," Murasaki responds in turn, but her voice holds no malice. In fact, she's smiling at him. He hasn't seen her this happy since... well, never, really.
"Was the trip arduous?" he asks half-teasingly, voice dripping with a tempered sarcasm.
"Yes, but it wasn't half as bad as getting ready. My left earlobe is suffering from a second degree burn by way of curling iron," she responds.
"Well, by the looks of your hair, it was hardly worth it."
"Ah! You rude delinquent!" she exclaims, swatting his arm.
"I thought you wanted us to match," he responds coolly.
Kyoya is smiling, and so is she, by the time they are seated. A nice little table with a window view.
Below them, the city lights sparkle like diamonds and stars.
~.~
Murasaki blanches upon her first glance at the menu.
"Oh Lord, Kyoya, have they really sent us to one of these places again?"
Kyoya shifts in his seat, eyes scanning the nearby tables, before answering.
"Now, Miss Murasaki, you and I both know-"
"Kyoya. Relax," Murasaki interrupts, laughing. She gestures to the restaurant and the other guests around them. "No one's listening. And even if they were, I'm confident there couldn't be anything worse than a cute picture of us on a tabloid cover. You and I both know I'm not important enough to warrant a scandal. So just be yourself."
Kyoya takes another look. And his shoulders drop ever so slightly, almost imperceptibly.
"Yes, it's one of these restaurants again," he says, smiling.
"One of those French places where you pay excessively to eat nothing? I'm going to starveeee," Murasaki whines, pressing a hand to her stomach.
"Actually, I was hoping you'd be up for visiting another spot afterwards."
"Ooooh, ramen?"
"Actually, I was thinking of katsudon," Kyoya admits. Murasaki's jaw drops in response, and she grins devilishly.
"I didn't know you've been mixing with the food of the Commonwealth! Since when? Have you had instant ramen yet?"
Murasaki leans into the table, prim and proper posture forgotten.
"It's mostly due to Tamaki, a friend of mine. He's the president of our club."
"Oh? What kind of club?"
"Host club."
Murasaki has to stop herself from spitting out her sparkling water, opting instead for choking daintily.
"A... A h-host club," she giggles.
"It's as ridiculous as it sounds," Kyoya sighs, just as the salads arrive, but Murasaki can hear the slightest note of endearment in his tone.
"Oh, it better be. Man, I gotta meet this Tamaki guy."
At this point, Kyoya has relaxed his barriers. He is watching her with a gentle sort of amusement, his chin resting in his hand, elbow propped on the table. His prim, proper posture has also been forgotten.
"You'd like Tamaki. He plays the piano," Kyoya says.
"President of a host club and a pianist? So what I'm hearing is good looking and a musician," Murasaki jokes as she pops a half-cut cherry tomato into her mouth. "Right, if I wasn't already enamored with Yuki, I'd ask for a formal meeting."
There's a beat of silence as Murasaki realizes what she's just admitted to.
Oh, shit. Let that one slip.
Kyoya raises a brow.
"Enamored? Not a word I ever thought I'd hear you use in reference to anything other than music. Who's the lucky fellow?" Kyoya asks.
"Classmate. We're class reps together, but he ... he doesn't see me that way. Besides, he's on a double date right now with the girl I suspect has already won his heart," Murasaki says, forcing a tone of nonchalance into her voice. But she can't look up to meet Kyoya's eyes, because then he'd know that she was lying. Instead, she tries to stare a little wistfully into her cup of sparkling water.
Their salad dishes are removed, and they're served a squid ink pasta course.
"Murasaki Kaname, having boy troubles. Has he heard you play yet?" Kyoya asks, his voice still light with a half-tease.
"He doesn't know."
All of the air in the room seems to become a few pounds heavier.
"...oh. I see," Kyoya murmurs.
"I'm trying to leave it behind," Murasaki continues.
"I should have suspected. I'm sorry."
"No, you're fine. I'm just ... I suppose I'm not as strong as everyone seems to think I am," she murmurs, twirling the pasta on her fork into endless spirals of black.
A moment of awkward silence hangs between them before Kyoya cuts in.
"Well, in my experience, strength is overrated. What you have, authenticity, is so much more important," he says.
"Can you lie authentically?"
"If the lie reveals truth, then yes."
Murasaki laughs.
Yuki sighs as he and Tohru step onto the escalator behind Kyo and Kagura, who are dying of suffocation and squeezing the life out of their date respectively. Just looking at the pair is both irritating and exhausting.
If it weren't for Honda-san, I would never have come. There are few ways this could get any worse.
And that's when he sees her.
Murasaki. In a beautiful red dress, with her hair loose and curled, smiling, laughing. With her date.
He's tall, and quite good-looking. Wearing a suit. They match in the way that young celebrity couples tend to match in tabloid photos.
She's stunning and he's handsome and they look so happy.
They pass by in a matter of moments, Yuki and Tohru on the ascending escalator heading towards the movie theater, Murasaki and her date on the descending one, leaving the level where they probably just had a fancy meal at that French restaurant a floor above. Murasaki doesn't see Yuki or the others. She's too busy laughing.
I take it back. Now, there is no way this could get any worse.
"Yuki-kun, was that Saki-chan just now?" Tohru asks.
"I... I don't know. Maybe."
"Well, if it was her, she looked like she was having a good time," Tohru says, smiling fondly.
Yuki sighs.
"Yes. Yes, she did."
"Kyoya, I'm really glad we got forced into this," Murasaki laughs as they exit an izakaya restaurant, bellies full of katsudon. The cold air whips through her hair pleasantly as they escape the stuffy warmth of the restaurant.
"I'm glad. My parents seemed pleased with the idea," he replies.
Murasaki raises a brow for the umpteenth time that evening, a realization clicking into place in her mind.
"Kyoya. Did you … this was your idea?"
He seems to realize his slip, because his posture reverts to his default formality, a clear indication that he is trying to hide something.
"I merely planted the seed. My mother ultimately made the phone calls."
She stops in her tracks, unhooking her hand from his elbow so that she can stand to face him.
"This was your idea," she repeats, speechless.
"In a manner of speaking, perhaps," he says, his voice taking on the slightest note of confession.
"You're not the type to arrange meetings, Kyoya. 'Hanging Out' is hardly in your vocabulary," Murasaki chuckles, a question evident in her tone.
The sounds of the city float around them, Murasaki's dress billowing slightly in a chilly breeze. She shivers: the decision to come without a jacket was a mistake.
Kyoya smiles a little at her inquiry, shrugging off his jacket and placing it around her shoulders before she can even begin to protest.
"You stopped texting around Christmas. I thought it prudent to update myself on the mental state of my future fiance," Kyoya says, smiling, and Murasaki laughs. While their eventual engagement might be the hope of their parents, Murasaki and Kyoya know they would likely never get engaged. Kyoya is too business-minded and invested in work, and Murasaki has spent the last several months trying to get away from the very work he seeks to excel at. They make good friends, but they'd be miserable spouses.
"You'd never want to marry me," Murasaki jokes.
"I haven't any idea what you're talking about."
"I'd reject your proposal and subject you to social humiliation."
"Bold of you to assume I'd be doing the proposing," Kyoya chuckles.
"Who else would be proposing? Certainly not me," Murasaki laughs.
"My mother," Kyoya responds solemnly, straight-faced, and she bursts into giggles.
"Oh, in that case I might be compelled to say yes."
Kyoya laughs, genuinely, and she smiles. His jacket is warm.
"Thank you, for checking up on me," she says, putting a hand on his shoulder. The contact surprises both of them; he's incredibly warm and her hands are cold (she'd left the house without gloves in a rare moment of forgetfulness).
"I was under the impression that that's what friends do. You've been sending me well wishes for every school term since September, it was only natural I return the favor."
Murasaki scoffs lightly.
"Sure, Kyoya. Natural."
She smiles, and he pushes his glasses up his nose, turning away slightly.
"Shall I call my family driver? He can give you a ride home, save your family the trouble," Kyoya asks, adjusting his jacket around her shoulders a little tighter as another chilly breeze blows through.
"I'd hate to trouble you."
"It's no trouble. I'd feel more at ease walking you to your door," he says.
Murasaki smirks.
"Host club life really has changed you, Kyoya," she laughs, and he allows himself to smile in turn.
"Perhaps."
"Yes, if that's alright, I'd appreciate a ride home."
~.~
And so it is. On the drive back, the pair of teenagers are quiet, but not uncomfortably so. What needed to be said has been said.
Kyoya walks her to her front door. She returns his jacket, and they bid each other good night, with an unspoken promise to meet again sometime.
So few words need to be exchanged for there to be an understanding between the two.
~.~
Murasaki falls asleep that night with a slight smile on her lips, looking forward to her run the next morning.
AN: She's friends with KYOYA OOTORI! I'm so JEALOUS! Loll
As ever, a huge thank-you to my Favorites/Followers: AngelofMusic1321, Deneb E. Winter, Sayuri Tamano, Yakitori-Chan, ayamiamy, cappie14, frustratedfox, sheeto1011, tokkiKANA, Of-Constellations-and-Coffee, SimULater, Ice of Serenity, TheAlleyCat18, Stestiel, wildflowerboots, ivyqiu112706, and TwilightNewMoonEclipseMidnight!
Review Replies!
TheAlleyCat18: Thank you so much for the lovely review! I know, the whole werecow thing was just so hilarious, I really owe ayamiamy for that idea, lmao. I'm glad you're enjoying the different POVs, I always enjoy writing both sides of a romance. It's more fun that way :)
Guest (Ch.5): Thank you so much, your review made me smile like a big dork! The image of Kyo as a "grumpy orange cow" as you put it is truly hilarious. Oh man, that's so funny I wish it was canon! I'm glad you find the story cute so far :)
Also also, I have a legitimate question for you guys. I'd love if you'd let me know your thoughts in a review.
For those of you who know Kyoya, what do you think of her scenes with him, and for those of you who don't know Kyoya, did the scenes make sense? I tried to make his character as clear as possible for anyone who hasn't watched Ouran, but I'm also trying to maintain an air of mystery around Murasaki's family situation, so the balance is tricky. (which, if you have theories there, I'd love to hear them!).
As ever, reviews are much much appreciated and keep me alive. Much love!
