FIVE

Flirting the Books

I think the best time of that night was falling into Kyoya, literally. It was like something someone could only dream about. I had a dream that night about the dancing, and I replayed the fall into his arms several times, and his hand warm in mine as he slipped the note into my hand.

I dreamed of the feeling of Tamaki's lips on my cheek, warm and fluttering. How I wished no one was looking so it would feel special instead of just my winning a prize.

When I woke up, I was clinging to my extra pillow and Kyoya's note was crumpled in my hand, and my other hand was gently touching my cheek. Oh, wow. Last night actually happened. I rolled onto my back and started up at my ceiling. I didn't have school today, I remember. Thank god for Saturday. I threw myself out of bed and got dressed in a nice but casual outfit.

Homework. I had a lot of extra homework to finish, so I decided to go to the library to catch up. I grabbed my book bag off of the armchair in my room and went down two flights of stairs to the kitchen. I started searching for a light snack while putting my hair up in a clip. "Morning, sweetie." my father said from the dining table across the room.

"Whoa," I jumped, "Daddy! You're home!" He and my mother were gone for two weeks at a science convention in America. They're always gone, either working or away and working, so I pretty much get the house to myself. I mean, my brother is here sometimes, and we have dinner together once in a while, but I'm usually at home. Anyway, I ran over to my father and hugged him tight.

"Hello, dear." he said, smiling, "Where were you just going?"

"To the library. I have a test coming up." I said, "Where's Mom?"

"Sleeping. I was going to wake her, but she was exhausted."

"Ah. So, how was the convention?" I asked.

"It was good." my father grinned, "I'll tell you all about it later. I actually have to go to work, and I'll be home really late, so I expect you to be smart about what time you get home, alright? And, we have to talk later. Tomorrow morning, eight thirty, sharp."

"Alright."

"We'll talk later, Demi. Do you want me to drive you to the library?"

"No, it's alright. I'll walk."

"It's five miles, Demi."

"I walk that far to school, dad. It's alright."

"Are you sure? It looks like rain."

"Yeah. If I need a ride, I can call Haruhi. And I've walked farther in rain, Daddy." He didn't know anything or how far I've had to walk because I don't feel like learning how to drive.

"Haruhi?"

"She got a scholarship and is going to Ouran." I said, smiling, "Anyway, I'd better get going. I love you."

Before I left, I put on two layers of clothes. A built-in-bra tank-top, a t-shirt, shorts under jeans, and a jacket. Usual playing-in-the rain attire for me.

So, I left. About half a mile later, my father passed me in his car, heading off to the science lab. I sighed. I wished my parents would be home more often. They're never home now-a-days. They were around more when I was younger, but now that I've gotten older, they're not around.

The thing is, I guess I'm upset. I mean, I needed my mom. I had to go out and look for things from either trusted teachers or the internet when I had a question about life, love, or sex. I wished my mother was there so she could give me pointers. And when I started to like that boy in seventh grade, there was no one I could go to for advice other then my friends, who all said the same thing, and they turned out to be wrong.

I also wish i could have had more time with my dad. We like a lot of the same things, old cheesy movies, air hockey, books, stupid anime's, and those dubbed Star Trek shows. Again, when my brother and I were younger, we watched stuff like that together. We would have week-long Star Trek marathons and never get to the end. We still have two series' to go. We would have Air Hockey Thursday and have one friend over each and play a big tournament for a hundred yen prize.

Then, when I turned eight, it just... stopped. Dad had to go to work, mom followed him, my brother went to high school and got really busy, and I had to move away from Haruhi. So, I had to get along by myself.

I've been doing fine, taught myself how to cook and stuff. I mean, we have servants, I just asked them to leave me alone and let me handle things unless I asked for their help so I could live like I wasn't a millionaire.

I arrived at the library and claimed a table in the rich-looking building. I sat there for a moment, collecting my breath before heading over to the biographies. I had to do a paper for English on someone really important in America's history. It should be easy, right?

I pulled out four different people. George Washington, Benjamin Franklin, Harriet Tubman, and Abraham Lincoln. I hope my teacher will accept one of these guys, well, and girl, but from these biographies, these people were pretty extraordinary. "Mr. Benjamin Franklin, I see." said a cool voice. As I lifted my head to look at him, he sank into the chair across from me. "Mind if I sit with you?"

"N-no." I said, smiling, "Of course not."

"I'm sorry for intruding," Kyoya said,"It's just, there were no other tables open."

"But you're practically a billionaire. Couldn't you bribe someone to leave."

"I could, but why go to the trouble when there's someone I know without someone to study with."

"True." I said as Kyoya opened a book he must have picked up earlier.

"Carry on."

I ducked my head back into the book. Holy shit, I am going to fail English now that I can't pay attention. Kyoya was distracting me big time. That thing he thinks is some of the support of the table he's lightly tapping with his foot is actually my ankle. I can see his eyes without the glasses from this angle and they're really pretty. It's weird how someone can be graceful as they read and take notes, their hand floating over the paper.

I did my best to discretely watch him, over my book. Then, I ventured forward with the foot he wasn't tapping. Gently, I crossed my legs, letting my foot graze his leg. "Sorry." I muttered, and he just nodded. We were silent for a few minutes before I put my book down and asked, "Have you ever thought about getting frames for your glasses?" he looked up.

"I don't really think about that sort of thing."

"I guess it's a good thing, too. The frames would take from your eyes." I mentally covered my mouth. SHUT UP!

"You do have a point. These glasses get a little boring, but a frame would draw away from my eyes."

"Have you ever thought about contacts?" I asked, reaching over the table and carefully removing his glasses. He didn't seem to protest. "Hm..." I tilted my head to the side.

"I've tried contacts, I just... liked glasses better." he said.

"You without glasses isn't really you, so just put them back on." I handed him his glasses and he slipped onto his face. "Is your arm feeling better?"

"It hurts to move it too much, but it's good."

"Can I take a look at it?" I asked, gesturing lightly to his bandaged arm.

"Sure." he said and stood up. I was confused for a moment, but then he sat next to me so his injured arm was closer to me.

Gently, I removed the bandage and pulled my medical kit from my bag. I gently rubbed an alcohol swab around the scratch. The blood-scab was starting to form. "You know, they say not to pick at these, but when I scraped my knee real bad, I got a scar like this and as I went to put on a skirt one day, it snagged on the scab and pulled some of it off. It makes it less tough and like it's pulling your skin so tight you can't move it. It bleeds, but not a whole lot. It heals it faster, too so it actually gets some air. I could be totally wrong about this." I laughed slightly as I examined it, "Sorry... I'll shut up."

"No, it's alright. It's good to hear something like that. Something personal and not all medical." Kyoya said.

"Just as long and your hands are clean." I felt my face get hot. I re-bandaged his arm and he returned to his seat.

I watched him a little more over my book, trying to read and take notes, but it's hard to do when one of the objects of your interest decided to sit with you to study. I've had enough being distracted. I set down my book again, "Hey, you may not be up for it, but I don't feel like studying. Want to go to the park or something?"

"It's going to rain, Demi." he said coolly, without looking up.

"All the more reason to go. My cousin said, 'You haven't lived until you've felt the rain on your face.'" I said, collecting my books.

"Did... she?"

"Yes, my cousin is a she." I said, standing up, "I will see you at school then."

I dropped my books off at the return counter and ventured out. The wind was blowing and it was blowing the clouds in. I didn't see any lighting or hear any thunder, so Haruhi could relax. I turned and ran away from the clouds, heading towards my favorite park. The one with the little bridge, you know? I raced the clouds for about a block before I heard his voice, "Demi! Wait up!"

"It got too boring for you, too?" I asked as he ran up next to me.

"You could say that. I could use a good walk." he saidd as we walked down the the street.

"Who couldn't?" I asked, smiling at him.

"You know, I could have fixed my arm by myself, right?"

"You're the one who took me up on my offer."

"I wasn't sure of your medical abilities. Then, you gave me stitches."

"So, it was a test."

"Exactly."

"Now, that whole, spinning me through the hosts was brilliant. It must have been very planned out." I said as we walked into the fairly crowded park.

"Even if it wasn't you who won, we would have done that. It's procedure."

"I believe it."

"Do you now?"

"I'm actually really smart, if you didn't know, and I know that everything that is said in that room is fake." he pondered that for a few meters.

"How do you know that?"

"It's obvious. Anyone with brains could see that."

"And you obviously have brains."

"Yes, I do. I'm proud of them."

"Anyone with brains is proud of them," Kyoya stated, "I'm proud of mine."

"Is there anything else you're proud of? I mean, you seem so... focused on yourself and the club."

"I guess..." he said after a moment, and the clouds covered the sun, "I guess I'm proud of Tamaki. He may be foolish and a complete idiot, but he can somehow keep our club going."

"Isn't it you who keeps it together? I mean, you handle the money."

"Yes, I do, but Tamaki brings in the costumers, and somehow, keeps the others from quitting if they threaten. Believe me, it's happened."

"So, you're proud of Tamaki?"

"You could say that." he put his hands in his pockets.

We walked in silence under the pink flowers. The only thing on my mind right now was that Kyoya was really close and my book bag was really heavy. I sighed lightly looking up at the clouds. The air felt tense and smelled of salt water. It should start raining any moment now. No sooner had I thought it, the first drops started to fall, and I smiled. "And so it begins." I said, running to the pavilion next to the bridge which was ahead of us a few meters. Kyoya followed, a little unsure of what I was doing.

As we watched the rain got harder. People ran for cover in the outside of the park until the park was empty. I closed my eyes and just listened to the rain, no human sound for two miles. Well, except our breathing. I smiled slightly. Ah, memories. I couldn't tell if my backpack sliding off my shoulders was me shrugging it off, or Kyoya pushing it off.

When I opened my eyes, he was extraordinarily close, and his face tinted red. I laughed. His face grew even more hot when I moved my backpack off to the side and took off my jacket. I felt weird getting undressed with a boy standing there, but it was only to a tank top and shorts, right. I could feel his un-comfort when I took off my t-shirt.

Finally in my shorts and tank top a few seconds later, and slipping off my socks, I was ready for a frolic in the rain. "Come on." I said, stepping into the rain and taking down my hair, "You coming? This is the fun part!" I spun around, looking up and letting the ran fall onto my face.

"You could get sick." Kyoya said.

"I know. I have gotten sick before, but it's totally worth it." I smiled big.

"Oh, alright. he slipped his sweatshirt over his head and tossed it next to my stuff. Thank god he had a t-shirt on. I think if he didn't I would have freaked out, and we can't have that, now. He stepped out into the rain and shivered.

"We'll get used to it." I assured him, "Come on, it's fun to watch the koi in the pond when it rains. They think it's food or something." I ran onto the red-painted bridge and looked over the railing into the choppy water. Little orange and white mouths kept surfacing to try to catch a rain drop. Kyoya came and leaned next to me.

"What is it about you, Demi?" he asked.

"What?" I asked, looking over at him for just a second. He'd taken his glasses off, I noticed.

"That makes you so... intriguing. I mean, we hardly know each other, and I'm always wondering when I'm going to see you again."

"We got to know each other enough when you helped me with my homework, so that made you want to know more about me, I guess." I said, moving to the middle of the bridge and letting the rain fall.

"That could be it." Kyoya said, "And seeing you and Haruhi talk at the club also helps. Like, what do you talk about?"

"Girl stuff, mostly. Our past, our present, our future. Haruhi has been my best friend since second grade. We were inseparable. We took turns spending the nights at each others houses, we were just a few doors down from each other. We were both devastated and excited when my dad got rich. I mean, we could never see each other again. So, we pretty much just catch up. I missed her and she missed me."

"So, you were good friends?"

"We were practically sisters."

"You know she's a girl, I see." I laughed.

"Pretty much." I said, laughing and twirling back to the edge. The rain lightened for a few minutes where Kyoya just stared out into the empty park, but hardened again right when Kyoya said,

"Demiya, I have a question." he looked over at me.

"Shoot."

"Do you want to dance?"

"What?" I stood up straight, looking at him.

"Do you want to dance? A more meaningful dance then you just winning a stupid prize?"

"Isn't it too romantic too fast?" I asked, laughing, "I mean, this is so out of character for you."

"It may be, but it's been, well... never, since I've had a real dance."

"Me, too..." I said, trailing off.

Wordlessly, we took each others hand and I set my free hand on his shoulder. His hand found my waist very lightly. We were so far apart, a person could stand between us. We started to move, but after a few steps, he pulled me closer to his really warm body. "There. I can see you now." he said in that smooth, sexy voice. My eyes widened.

"Why would you want to see me? I'm not that pretty." I scoffed, like I cared how I looked anyway. I mean sometimes I really loved my hair or my eyes, and I'd make them pretty.

"Because. It's good to see the person you're dancing with. Especially if your partner has eyes like yours."

"Eyes like mine?"

"Yes. Well, you know, for a girl, you have pretty eyes."

"Thanks." I laughed, "And you have pretty hair, for a guy."

"Thank you, Demi."

"No problem." I smiled.

"Well, and you have a pretty smile." he said, and I stopped moving, "It lights up your eyes, and I just said how much I love your eyes."

He could get no farther. I wouldn't let him. Not with my arms around his neck and my lips against his. It was unbearable. There was no way I could have lasted any longer. Maybe a couple of minutes, but better now then later, I was currently thinking. His lips were unresponsive, and his eyes open, I could tell through my closed ones. I let the kiss last three seconds longer then it needed to be before I pulled away. "Stupid..." I muttered to myself, looking down, "Stupid. Stupid. STUPID!" I laughed, "I made a fool of myself, using up my first kiss. Why did I do that?" I started pacing.

"Good question..." I heard Kyoya say under his breath, but it was so quiet, I think I imagined it.

"God, I am an idiot." I said, running past him to the pavilion, "What was I thinking?" I threw on my jacket over my wet tank top, not bothering to zip it. I needed to get out of here. Now. I quickly checked the time. 1:30... where would I even go?

As I threw my jeans and t-shirt into my backpack, I felt Kyoya's hand on my shoulder. He pulled me so I was facing him, then put an arm around my waist, pulled me to him and held me close, whispering "It's alright." into my ear. I almost wished it was a kiss, but just him holding me was just fine.

Tamaki left his fathers office in a daze. He'd just been given the most insane news of his entire life. No way did that just happen. Tamaki stopped for a second, then stepped back into his fathers office. "You're sure? You're serious?"

"Yes, Tamaki." his father said with a sigh, "I am completely serious."

What would this mean, Tamaki thought as he left his fathers office and headed down to his own room. Would things get awkward? Weird? Did anyone else know? What does this mean for him now? Does he have to quit the Host club? Does it have to go public? And why NOW to decide this?

All these questions and more stirred through his head as he flopped down on his bed. Should he call Kyoya? No, he was preoccupied. Either sleeping in 'till 1:30 in the afternoon or studying. Kyoya would get very upset if he was disturbed either way. Who could he call?

~!~!~!~!~!~

"Do you think this is the right thing to do?" Itsuyo asked her husband that night as they lay in bed after a long day at work, "I mean, she's only fifteen. Don't you think it's too much? I mean, it's the prime of her life."

Matthew didn't think so. At her age, he was engaged. She died before they could get married, but that's beside the point. Demiya grew up on her own with no parental guidance. Shouldn't they start being parents? "Yes, Itsuyo, I think this is the right thing to do. Why not?"

"Sweetheart, she's fifteen. She needs time to grow up, date people. I mean, I did, and I'm just fine."

"Then, you retired as a detective and became a biologist. You had no time for dating."

"Yeah, I was a detective for a while. For good reason. And I was really smart and good at it. If I wasn't we wouldn't have Shou Souta."

"You wouldn't have Shou Souta." Matthew said sharply.

"Yes, and I love my son. You may not, but the children don't even know about it."

"Who is his father anyway?"

"I already told you, he was a great detective, he died a long time ago. I was twenty two." Itsuyo's tone softened.

"Can we not argue?"

"Can you love Shou Souta?"

"Yes, I can."

"I just don't think this is smart, Matthew. Please rethink it."

"I shall not."

~!~!~!~!~!~

"Hello?" Haruhi was doing the dishes earlier that afternoon, and just finishing up, when the phone rang. Haruhi answered the phone with two fingers and balanced it between her head and her shoulder as she dried her hands. "Hello?" she asked.

"Haruhi, I have something to say."

"Tamaki sempai?" Haruhi paused, then put the phone in her hand, "What is it?"

"I just got some distressing news that I'm not sure what to do with."

"What is it, sempai?"

As Tamaki spoke, Haruhi's face turned white.