(A/N: Shoot, guys... I honestly have no excuse for not writing too much. I mean, I was in "Annie" recently, and tech week was a bitch, and then I got a flu and was passed out for a week, and school got intense and I got really busy... So, I haven't had all that much time to write lately, and now that it's almost summer, I'll be getting you guys chapters one after another.

Actually, a minor confession. This is draft 2 of this chapter. I wrote myself into a corner, so I had to go and rewrite a bit of my outline and then fix a few things and all that complicated process. Anyway... Now on to the story.)

TEN

The Trip Part 1

The only thing I could think about for four days was the kiss between me and Tamaki. Since then we haven't been able to see each other due to school.

My parents came home the day before the trip, so I had to hide Kyoya again. He was helping me with homework while we watched the scans, so when my parents got home, I had to run to greet them.

They seemed to be on edge with each other, like they were fighting. A big one this time. My parents fight a lot, but always about minor things, and they seemed on edge. Like they were volcanoes, about to erupt. When they went to their room, I went back to mine and uncovered Kyoya from my closet, and we went back to studying.

The next day, they left again, not expecting to come back until the end of the month. Souta and I stood there, together, holding each others hands tightly, watching our parents leave. I got an uneasy feeling, like something was going to go wrong. With the state things are in, they could very well go wrong.

Kyoya and I assured my brother the next night that we would continue our search in Karuizawa. Souta said he had a list of about seven guys already who could possibly be his father. They all fit the time period of when my mother was there and everything. Kyoya mentioned an eighth.

I went to school after that, walking there, getting there at eight just before the bell rang. School was tedious. In just a few hours, I was going on a trip. A trip of a lifetime. With the boy I was in love with, my best friend, and my fiance.

Then, the time came for me to leave and head out to the car. I woke up, dressed and went out to the car. I wasn't fully awake yet... It was all packed, everything was finished and ready, and I... slept the whole way to the airport. I met up with the guys and Haruhi there, and I slept on the plane as well. I was in a half-asleep daze until suddenly, "Reservation for Suoh?"

I think I fully woke up when Tamaki and I stood in a large hotel room, more like a small apartment, and noticed that there was one bed. One bathroom with a bath/shower combination, a small couch and two arm chairs... and nothing suitable to make another bed out of. We expected as much, but we knew we were sleeping together tonight. In the same bed.

I think for the first time, I honestly hated Mr. Suoh. We knew what he wanted, but we promised, standing right there, that we weren't going to do it until after the wedding. In, we hoped, several years from now.

Since we were going to be staying, we unpacked. I hung up all of my dresses and put everything else in the drawers on one half of the dresser. The first day of the vacation is was all cloudy and rainy anyway, though the rest of it was supposed to be sunny, so we stayed in. Kyoya visited and Kyoya and I sat in the lounge area with our computers, scanning. Tamaki sat with us, and we explained that it was a research project for Souta.

"Are you going to do this every night?" Tamaki asked.

"There's a good possibility." Kyoya stated, "It's very complex."

"Why did he ask you two to help him?"

"Well, I volunteered." I explained, "I saw he was distressed, so I offered my services. Kyoya was there, too because we had been working on our book project, so he offered to help as well."

"I see. So, what are you researching?"

"People who could potentially be Souta's father." I didn't look at Tamaki when I spoke.

"But, isn't Matthew his father?"

"No. He's not. He figured it out the hard way." I sighed.

"So, you're looking for him?"

"Pretty much." Kyoya said.

"I'd better let you to it, then." Tamaki started to get up, but I pulled him back.

"No, you can stay." I exclaimed, "All we do is watch them finish, add a new name, and watch that for a few hours. We talk, usually, or watch the scans until we fall asleep. In which case we wake up, and Kyoya goes home to continue watching the scans."

"Oh. Alright then." Tamaki laughed.

The first day on the beach, Haruhi and I were girls and in bathing siuts, sunbathing, reading, and sipping tea while the boys ran around playing on the beach. Haruhi and I spent the next day sunbathing and shopping, not getting in the water once.

I won't deny that at night it got a little awkward as Tamaki and I got into the same bed to go to bed, but it got a bit normal after a few nights. We would just talk each other to sleep.

The third day, Haruhi and I got in the water with the rest of the boys, but I didn't go too far in. If I went higher then just above my waist, Kyoya would help me back a few feet to shallower waters. I liked shallow water anyway. I could see the bottom, and the sea bottom was really pretty.

Tamaki actually tried to pull me in deeper with him, but then either Kyoya or Haruhi would mention something out of the water that I would like, so I managed to stay out.

On the fourth day, we went around town, shopping, being tourists. Well, at least Haruhi and I were the enthusiastic tourists. That day, I couldn't get over the fact that Tamaki held my hand the whole time.

On the fifth day, I opened my eyes to a sunny day. Tamaki was still asleep, as usual. He usually sleeps about ten minutes longer then I do, so that gives me a chance to get dressed. So, that's what I do. I put on a two-piece, blue and white swimsuit and a white t-shirt and white shorts.

I was brushing my teeth when Tamaki woke up. He stretched for a minute and got out of bed. As I brushed my hair and put it in a side braid, he hid in the other room and changed into his swimsuit and t-shirt. Then, he did all the necessaries in the bathroom.

Once he was done, we headed down the hall to the elevator for breakfast. That is when we finally spoke to each other.

"Good morning, Tamaki." I said, starting conversation.

"Good morning, Demiya. How did you sleep?"

"Just fine. And you?"

"Fine. I had a really weird dream, though."

"What was your weird dream about?"

"It was really weird. I honestly don't think you'll want to hear it." Tamaki said, laughing.

"Are you sure?"

"No. It was very graphic." Tamaki pushed the elevator button.

"Graphic. That's... lovely." I laughed.

"Quite. So, did you have a dream last night?"

"Not that I recall." I mused, "Things like that usually don't stick in my memory that long."

"Neither do mine. I hope to forget my dream over breakfast."

"I hope the best for you." I said as the elevator door opened.

"Thank you." Tamaki grinned.

"You know," I commented, "I don't understand why a rich, expensive hotel like this would have a continental breakfast."

"Now that I think about it, it does seem weird. I don't understand it either."

For breakfast, I had the usual. Cereal, a waffle, some apple juice, and some rice. Just your basic continental breakfast. We're all good. After breakfast, we went back to the room for towels and sunscreen. Once sunscreen is applied, Tamaki and I helping each other a little, we met everyone downstairs in the lobby.

Haruhi looked amazing, for not really trying to be a girl. She wore a pair of jean-shorts and a yellow tank top with a blue flower on it over what was her black and blue one-piece suit. Her hair was a little brighter then usual. She's obviously been in the sun. She looked so cute! I see why the boys find her adorable. The one thing I've only just noticed is... she keeps staring at Tamaki.

From that moment, as we walked out to the beach, Kyoya and I closer to each other then Tamaki and I, I realized before Tamaki did that he and Haruhi were in love with each other. Oh, my. This was bound to get interesting. I wasn't sure when or how, but sooner or later they're going to find out how they feel about each other, and I'm going to be standing in the way. Not all the way, of course. I have my sights on someone else.

We spent the day on the beach. All day. We waded around in the water, played beach volleyball, Haruhi and I looked for shells, we all sunbathed for a while and near the end, I stole Tamaki's sunglasses.

Kyoya had just gone inside, probably the scan or write something in that notebook of his, which he left in his room, I see, and Tamaki and I were on our towels next to each other, and Haruhi was on my other side. We were tanning our backs and Haruhi looked over at me. "Get his glasses." she mouthed, and I smirked.

I looked in his direction and slowly reached over. I gently grabbed the side of them with my thumb and forefinger. They were expensive looking, and possibly one-of-a-kind. This was Tamaki after all. That's what made it worth it.

After a moment, I pulled them from his eyes. His eyes shot open and looked at me shock. We sat up, Haruhi, too. "What was that for? I need those." he grabbed for them, but I reached behind me and handed them to Haruhi.

"I know you need them." Haruhi said, "That's why it's funny."

"It's not funny."

"Not yet, anyway." I said.

"I haven't run away, yet." Haruhi said, and she stood up. With that, she bolted.

Tamaki ran after her. They ran down the beach, picture perfect. Haruhi looked behind her at the determined boy behind her. Haruhi made a wide turn, to come back to the towels, but Tamaki intercepted. They crashed into one another. In an interesting dynamic twist, Tamaki landed, hard, on the sand and Haruhi landed on top of him. This was getting interesting.

She raised herself on on her hands and looked down at Tamaki. She seemed a bit shocked. He seemed surprised as well. They looked at each other for a long time, the sunglasses momentarily forgotten. For the longest moment of suspense, I thought they were going to kiss. Instead, Haruhi just got up and ran back to our space. Tamaki lay there for a minute before following.

That was pretty much the most exciting thing that happened all day until the end. On the rock that Haruhi had described in her "I got attacked by drunk bastards" story. She seemed a bit nervous to be up here at first, but now that she was staring at the sunset with all of her best friends around her, she didn't seem at nervous at all. The only person missing was Kyoya. I hadn't seen him in a few hours. He was probably back at the hotel taking a nap or something.

It was a beautiful sunset. The sky was red and gold, and slowly turning a deep purple as the sun went down. It was a romantic setting, but with no one extremely romantic was around. Other then Tamaki, but he wasn't about to be all romantic or anything.

Then, without warning, the twins ran forwards and, completely in sync, jumped off the rock and into the sea. Honey Senpai laughed followed them. Mori senpai followed, expressionlessly. A moment later, they were all back on the rock, and jumping off again. Soon, they started taking turns. I stayed as far away as I could without being too obvious.

After a few minutes, Haruhi got tired of watching the boys having all the fun and jumped in herself. I was glad to see them having fun. They've been having fun all week, but I was always happy to see them having fun. Mori and Honey started doing flips and all kinds of aerobics into the water.

I could see the hotel from here. The door just opened by the pool and Kyoya stepped out. I sighed. I missed him. Being alone with him... Getting to actually talk about stuff. Feelings. How we could somehow break off my engagement to Tamaki.

I'm actually starting to... like Tamaki a little bit. I mean, who wouldn't start to like him a little after seeing him shirtless. And sleeping with him. Not sleeping with him of course, but sleeping no less. I looked at his as he passed, running towards the edge. Then, he stopped and turned to me.

"Hey, you're not going to go in?"

"No... I'm going to refrain from jumping into the water for now."

"Why not?" he asked, pulling me forward gently.

"B-because. I don't feel like it."

"Oh, come on." Honey urged, "It's fun!"

"Guys, just let her be." Haruhi said, "She doesn't want to."

"She should at least try it." Hikaru said, leaning on his brother.

"She hasn't been that deep in the water at all this week." Kaoru leaned against his brother as well.

"She can swim, right?" the twins chorused.

"Of course she can." Tamaki said sweetly, "Just jump with me. It'll be fine."

"No, really. I don't want to." I tried to pull from their grasps, but it wasn't working. Haruhi ran over to her bag, pulled out her phone, pressed a few buttons, and ran back over again.

"Please, try it." Tamaki asked. I looked at Haruhi for help.

"No, I can't. I-I have to tell you-" I was getting dangerously close to the edge. Oh, how I hated deep water.

"It's alright. I understand."

"Oh," chorused the twins, "just jump in!" The twins pushed me, leaving Tamaki guiding empty air.

~!~!~!~!~!~

Kyoya got tired of watching Tamaki and Demiya flirt. He knew it was unintentional, but it was there. They were a terrific couple, and he couldn't bear to watch them anymore, so he went inside.

He sat in his hotel room, staring at the scanning computer. He wished he could just find Souta's father for him. He felt sorry for Souta. He could empathize with him. Neither of them really had a father. Or, at least a father who cared. He was worried for Souta. Kyoya just KNEW that the one man who was dead in the seven that they had found, HE was going to be Souta's father. It was just the way this cruel world worked.

When he was bored with watching the computer scan, and he had just finished his 1432th game of Solitaire that afternoon, he grabbed his notebook and cell phone and decided to go sit by the pool. The sun was going down, and he saw that everyone of his group was on top of the rock that Haruhi got thrown off of.

He didn't look up at the rock, but later he knew he should have. As he left the hotel, his phone beeped. When he checked, it was a text from Haruhi. "Kyoya, Demiya needs help. Hurry."

When he looked up, the boys were guiding her to the edge, though she was trying to force herself back, farther from the water. At first, Kyoya didn't see a problem, but then he realized... the boys were idiots. They would have jumped off into the water by now, and not they would be trying to get Demiya to do it, too. Damn it.

With that thought, he dropped his book and his cellphone on the spot as he started to run. She was getting closer to the edge every second. Damn Tamaki. Then, the twins pushed Demiya off of the ledge. Kyoya climbed it as fast as he could. When he reached the top, they were all just... standing there. Haruhi looked down at the water in horror. Kyoya ran up behind Tamaki. "She hasn't come up yet." Tamaki said.

"You IDIOT!" Kyoya cried, "She's afraid of deep water and can't swim, you moron!"

With that, the Angel of Darkness jumped into the water, not wasting another second on that moron. How could Demiya not tell him that she couldn't swim and was terrified of deep water. How could she? For a moment, as he fell through the air, he had a flashback.

"I guess it's just a fear, then." he'd said when she told him.

"That's the way I see it." Demiya shrugger

It was funny. It was like she'd never kissed him. Like she'd never been such an idiot. No. She wasn't an idiot. Anyone would have done it. Despite that, he found himself staring at her lips, wishing she would think herself an idiot again. She then sighed and checked the clock behind her. "I have to be home in about forty five minutes." she said, turning back to Kyoya.

"Why did you tell me your greatest fear?" Kyoya asked, looking right into her eye, honestly curious.

"I don't know." she shrugged, "You asked, I answered."

"Do you trust me?"

"Yes, I suppose. Why?"

"Who else knows of your fear?"

"Not too many people. Haruhi, my parents, my brother, you..." she trailed off

"Demi..." he trailed off, "Why would you trust me?"

"Why not?" Demi asked.

"Trust shouldn't be given out that easily."

"You earned yours, too." she assured him, gently touching his shoulder, "Do you trust me?"

"I've trusted you since day one." he said, "If I didn't I wouldn't have let you stitch up my arm."

"Why?"

"You have to trust a doctor."

He plunged into the water. She didn't tell Tamaki because she didn't trust them? How's that for a solid relationship. Maybe she was just waiting for the right time. She didn't want to let him down, so once they got home she would say something... That was Demi, alright. But... maybe she really didn't trust Tamaki.

Why not? They were going to get married soon. Well, not soon, but eventually. Trust was an essential in a marriage. Even an arranged one. Besides, they were friends at least, right?

Demiya wasn't too far under the water, but still at a significant depth. Kyoya took her in his arms and went up. By the time he was on shore with her head above water, everyone was there, waiting for them.

Kyoya looked down at the girl in his arms and whispered to the unconscious girl, "Don't let that punk talk you into stuff like this again. You have to tell him how you feel about deep water. Don't be such an idiot. You got everyone worried about you. Especially me. I f you don't tell him. I will. I love you, Demiya."

The girl in Kyoya's eyes opened for only a second before fluttering shut again. She loved him, too. If only she could say.