my sincerest apologies, readers.
i have taken an unforgivable amount of time to load this chapter, but i must humbly inform you that it is not completely my fault. it my laptop's.
no, that's a lie. it's my charger's. damn thing. but everything's okay now and i got a new charger and im back to writing.
enjoy! ^^
and i dont own ouran. ~RBASA
C11: Going to the Hitachiin Estate and Performing the Commoner Activity of "Hanging Out".
We arrived back at the Hitachiin Estate and… well, yeah. We didn't really know what to do. We just kind of sat around and did nothing for a good twenty minutes before Midori snapped. "THIS IS EXACTLY WHAT WE WERE DOING BEFORE!" she practically screamed. "Let's DO something."
"Um… I guess we could watch a movie…?" Kaoru said.
She ran up into his face. "THAT!" she screamed. "Is a great idea." She finished softly.
They all plopped down on some of the sofas in the basement while I lumbered down the stairs after them. I could've been sleeping right now… I thought sadly.
I made it down in time for the beginning credits. I looked around, but there were no more seats. I had to smile when I saw Haruhi squeezed in between the twins, practically sitting on Hikaru's lap. Midori was sitting a friendly distance away from Kyoya, but their hands weren't that far from touching. I sighed and made myself comfortable on the ground in front of the TV with a couch pillow.
We were watching some Disney movie. It might have been Aladdin, but I couldn't be sure. My eyes were already closed and my mind was too far gone by the time the starting credits were over.
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"HEY!" Midori screamed. "Are you sleeping again? God. Seriously girl, I think you got a problem."
I pulled the pillow over my head and she kicked me. "Get up. It's 3:30 and the movie's over. We need to DO something."
I sat up, holding the pillow in my lap and trying to keep my eyes open. The rain pelted the windows. I saw Haruhi looking anxiously out the window. What, is she afraid of rain or something? I thought.
Midori sighed and turned to the others, who were still plopped on the couch.
"Whadda ya wanna do, guys?" She asked, putting her hands on her hips.
I lay down again while her back was turned. "We could… mess with Vinny." The twins said mischievously, leering down at me.
My eyes shot open and I glared at them.
Midori turned and kicked me again. "DON'T FALL ASLEEP AGAIN!" she yelled. "Y'know guys, maybe that ain't such a bad idea."
I stared at her. She was NOT doing this to me.
She and the twins took a step closer. God, this is like assault or something, I thought, scrambling up and stepping backwards, clutching my pillow as a weapon.
There was a sudden BOOOOOOOM of thunder and the lights went out. I quickly dove behind the couch, making my escape from the devious trio while most everyone else shrieked, the loudest one of all Haruhi. Oh…. She's afraid of thunder, I realized. I stood up from behind the couch and ran out of the room to fetch a flashlight.
When I came back everyone was surrounding Haruhi, patting various appendages of her trembling body. Hikaru had already given her his Ipod, and I smiled. Maybe Hikaru isn't so bad, I thought. Kaoru had always been my favorite twin, but it was possible Hikaru was getting better.
I turned on the flashlight and placed it on the table, pointing it towards to ceiling so everyone could see a little in the darkness, and silently sat on the couch, peering into the mass of people to make sure Haruhi was alright. She was crouched in a tiny ball, clutching a blanket, her eyes squeezed tight.
I frowned. I hoped she was okay…
But something was wrong.
I scanned the room.
Where is Midori?
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MIDORI'S POV
I was huddled underneath the pool table, shaking. I knew it was silly of me. It was a childish fear. I tried to lift my head up and open my eyes, but I just squeaked and screwed them shut again. It was so dark. Anything could come out and get me. I was vulnerable, and I hated it. I couldn't see anything. I was scared, so scared. I shuddered involuntarily.
I heard the Host club, not so very far away, start to realize I wasn't among them.
Vinny got to me first, finding me in a flash, that silent little bugger.
She crawled under the table with me, and put her hand on my arm. I knew she could feel me shaking, but I couldn't stop.
She didn't say anything.
I was grateful. Normally someone would ask what was wrong, or try to persuade me to come out. But no. Vinny wasn't like that. She knew that I just needed someone to be there, not someone to console me or encourage me. She was so small, and yet her aura was so strong and comforting. Her presence was enough.
I sighed a shaky sigh and saw the flashes of light as someone with a flashlight ran around, yelling.
"WHERE ARE MY DAUGHTERS?"
I almost laughed. Tamaki.
Suddenly, the lights flickered back on, and I opened my eyes a tiny crack. The power was back up, and I felt relief wash over me like a wave, releasing the knots in my joints and melting the ice in my stomach. I quickly scrambled out from under the table, Vinny just a step behind me. I walked calmly over to the couch, where Honey, Mori, Kyoya, and Hikaru sat with Haruhi.
I guessed Tamaki and Kaoru were still running around searching for us.
"WHERE WERE YOU!" Tamaki screamed from behind us, causing me to leap about 20 feet in the air. "YOU ALMOST GAVE DADDY A HEART-ATTACK!"
I sighed. "I was searching for a flashlight, but it seems that you have already found one. Not that it's much use to us now, anyways." I said coolly, shrugging. I had always been a good liar. In my peripherals, I noticed Vinny didn't even blink at the lie. She must be good at it too, I thought. I really wonder what her story is…
VINNY'S POV
I wasn't surprised that Midori lied. In fact, I expected it. I mean c'mon. Like a girl like her was gonna come out and say, "Oh yeah, I was hiding under the pool table because of my embarrassing phobia of darkness. Duh." Gimme a break.
"WELL." Tamaki said, at a loss for words. I half-expected him to stage-whisper, "LINE?!".
Kaoru came up behind him and walked towards Haruhi. Shit, I thought. I had almost forgotten about her. Luckily, the thunder was hardly audible at this point.
She opened her eyes a crack and saw everyone crowded around her. She ripped the headphones off her ears and dropped the blanket she was strangling, awkwardly standing up. "Um. I… Sorry." She said, blushing a bit. "Uh- I- I… have to go to the bathroom," she said, running off out of the room and down the hall.
"Well. That wasn't awkward." Midori deadpanned. "It's 3:50. Whatta ya guys wanna do?"
Everyone just stared at her.
"We could play a game while we wait for Haru-chan to come back," Honey suggested.
"OKAY!" Midori yelled. God. I swear I'm gonna need a hearing aid by the end of this week.
"What do ya wanna play?" she asked.
"We could play… truth or dare," The twins grinned mischievously. I couldn't stop my shudder. I saw Mori glance at me. God, I could really punch that boy in the gut.
"What's that?" Midori asked.
Everyone stared at her again, temporarily forgetting that she was deprived of a regular childhood.
"OH. MY. QUAIL." The twins said. "WE HAVE TO TEACH YOU IT RIGHT NOWW!"
They quickly sat everyone down in a circle, but I stayed standing. There was no way I was being subjected to this. Last time I played this game was at sleepover in junior high with a bunch of kids from school, and I ended up having to lick the bottom of Johnny Brickett's dirty old shoe. I almost shuddered at the memory. No doubt the twins would make this game even worse, with their twisted minds.
I calmly walked back over to the couch and plopped down, just planning to rest.
"Heyyyyyy," the twins whined. "You're not gonna play with us?"
I just looked at them. Did it LOOK like I was going to play with them?
"WHYYY NOOOOOTTTT?" They wailed, Midori joining in. I just rolled my eyes and shook my head, grabbing a pillow and making myself comfortable.
"OH NO YOU DON'T!" Midori yelled stomping over to me and dragging me off the couch, which was surprisingly easy for her. I yelped and she dumped me into the circle, between Mori and Honey. Who did she think she was? My mother?
"C'mon Vinny-chan, it will be fun!" Honey exclaimed. I grumbled and made myself comfortable.
"ALL RIGHT. HERE WE GO." The twins started. "You'll get the hang of it as we go along, Midori, don't worry." Hikaru turned to Tamaki. "Oi boss, truth or dare?" he said.
"DARE! Your king is not afraid of-"
"Yeahyeahyeah," Hikaru cut him off. Tamaki's eyes welled up at the interruption as Hikaru turned to whisper something to Kaoru. "ALRIGHT." He started, turning back to a not-so-brave looking Tamaki. "I dare you to HUG Nekozawa the next time we see him."
Tamaki's face turned pure white. "N-N-No. N-No." He said.
I almost felt bad for the guy, he seemed so scared. But who was Nekozawa? I saw the same question in Midori's eyes. "Um, who exactly, is-"
"He's a black magic master who only wears dark cloaks and owns a cursed cat puppet named Belzeneff which he carries around with him 24/7," Kaoru said simply.
A grin slowly spread across my face. That was the most awesome thing I had ever heard. I HAD to meet this guy. He sounded way too cool. I started giggling.
"Alright…." Tamaki said, over his little fit and confused by my reaction. "Um… HONEY-SENPAI!" He continued, flinging a finger across the circle to Honey. "TRUTH OR DARRRRE?"
"Um…" Honey considered, tapping his finger against his lips. "Dare." He said confidently. I was so proud of him.
"Alright! I dare you to….. NOT EAT any candy or cake…." His voice trailed off significantly as he saw the look Mori gave him. "I DARE YOU TO EAT AS MANY PIECES OF CANDY AND CAKE AS YOU WANT!" he cried, quickly editing. I had to laugh.
"YAYAYAAYAYAY!" Honey cried, pulling a piece of cake from nowhere and stuffing it in his face.
He finished and stroked his imaginary beard, choosing his victim. "Hmm… Kao-chan. Truth or Dare?"
"…Dare." Kaoru said, seemingly confidant, but I could see through him.
"Alright. I dare you to spend the rest of the day away from Hika-chan!"
"GAH! WHAT? NO! YOU CAN'T DO THAT TO US!" The twins shrieked, clinging to each other. Honey glared at them, and reluctantly they went to sit on opposite sides of the circle. Midori snickered.
"FINE." Kaoru said, angry. "Midori, truth or dare?"
"Um… Truth," She said.
"ALRIGHT, DARE IT IS!" The twins shouted, excited again.
"WHAT?" she yelled, but was ignored.
"We dare you…. To stand on one hand while sticking your tongue out and singing Mary Had a Little Lamb." They grinned evilly.
"Ummm… no thanks." She said.
"NOPE-NOPE-NOPE! YOU HAVE TO YOUNG LADY! IT'S PART OF THE RULES!" Tamaki yelled, delighted.
"WHAT DO YOU MEAN? I DON'T EVEN HAVE A CHOICE?" she yelled, sounding a lot like Haruhi. I was still wondering where she went…
She huffed and stood, mumbling about how she didn't even know how to stand on one hand. She tactfully lay down on the ground and lifted her feet onto the couch, and then pushed her upper body up with one arm. Ahh, clever, I thought with respect.
The twins grumbled about cheating a little, but otherwise did not protest. After all, the best part was coming.
She sighed, stuck her tongue out, and began to sing.
I tried so hard to contain myself. So hard. But it was physically impossible.
"MAWAH HA UH WILLWILL WAM, WILLWILL WAM, WILLWILL WAM, MAWAH HA UH WILLWILL WAM HOO HEES WA WHI AH SWOHHHHH!"
Halfway through the first "WILLWILL WAM" I was quite literally rolling on the floor laughing. She sounded like a half-drunk half-drowned sheep that was recently diagnosed with laryngitis. I clutched my sides and gasped for air, noticing that Honey was in a state a state quite like mine, Mori had a small smile on his face, and the twins were pounding each other's back and laughing so hard their faces were as red as their hair. Tamaki was trying hard to conceal his laughter, covering his mouth with his hand like a gentleman, but he couldn't control it. Kyoya just stared, eye twitching a little.
By the time I recovered, I had noticed that Haruhi was stopped mid- walk in the doorway, her face twitching with a dumbfounded expression, which only made it 10 times worse, and we all started busting up again. Midori just sat there, red faced, trying to erase her memory of what just happened.
The second time I recovered, I took a shaky breath, looking around the room. Kyoya was just staring at Midori. "… Oh, God." He said.
Of course that had me cracking up all over again, but this time it was shorter, and I quickly wiped the tears away from my eyes, and I saw the twins doing the same.
Every time I looked at Midori for the rest of the night I went into fits of laughter, and eventually she got aggravated. "IT WASN'T THAT FREAKIN FUNNY YOU DIRTY LITTLE WRETCH!" She yelled at me. All I could do was nod. It was SO that funny.
"THAT'S IT! I'M LEAVING!" she exclaimed, throwing her hands up in the air and stomping up the stairs. I would've apologized, but I was still laughing too hard.
Kyoya sighed. "I guess she'll need a ride. Thank you for treating us as your guests tonight." He said politely, following Midori out. I tried to wave goodbye, but I still couldn't function properly. Oh trust me, I TRIED to stop laughing. I really did.
Tamaki left right after, dragging a very dejected looking Haruhi along with him.
Kaoru just looked at me convulsing on the floor. "Is she going to be okay?" He asked curiously.
Honey giggled and Mori just stared at me, which made me feel that jittery-ness again, even though I was laughing.
"… I honestly don't know," Hikaru said.
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MIDORI'S POV
Kyoya's family's limo finally pulled up to the house, and we both slipped inside, glad to be out of the cold rain. It was freezing outside. I rubbed my hands against my arms, shivering. It really shouldn't be this cold, I thought. It's only September, for screamin' out loud!
It was a quiet ride back to the school. I kept sneaking glances at Kyoya. He was unbelievably attractive, the way his messy hair somehow always turned out perfect, and the way his glasses sat on his nose, reflecting what little gray light there was outside.
One time he caught me looking at him, and I quickly shifted my gaze to outside.
I swear I saw him smirk. I blushed.
We pulled up to the school, which was, for some reason, still open at 5. He helped me out of the car and led me inside and down to the 3rd Music Room. He tried the handle, but it wouldn't budge.
"It's locked?" I asked. Why on earth would it be locked?
He nodded and tried again. I rolled my eyes and pulled a bobby pin from out of my messy bun.
"What exactly are you doing?" He asked, raising an unbelievably attractive eyebrow. I shook my head of the thought and bent down to the handle.
"What does it look like I'm doing?" I asked, fiddling with the pin and lock.
"It looks like you're vandalizing school property," He retorted.
"Then I guess I am," I said, straightening and pushing the door open with a small smile.
He sighed and gestured for me to go first. I walked in and towards my door, which he opened for me.
"Goodnight, Midori," he sighed, as if he were tired of me. I'll admit that stung a little.
" 'Night Kyoya-senpai," I sighed back. He started to shut the door behind him. "Oh, and Kyoya?" I added. He opened the door back up and stuck his head in. "Thanks," I smiled. For everything.
He just stared at me for what I thought was hours, and then said, "Anytime," with a tiny smirk.
Then he shut the door and left.
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VINNY'S POV
I had recovered from my laugh-attack and was now sitting on the couch with Honey's head in my lap. He seemed very sleepy, even though it was just a little after 5.
I ran my fingers through his hair. I loved this kid. He yawned and stretched. I smiled. He was so cute, even though he was somehow older than me. I was glad he wouldn't be leaving for a while, but I could say otherwise for his tall friend. Their driver got stuck in the rain, and wouldn't be able to arrive for a while.
I sighed. Well, gotta take the good with the bad, I guess.
The twins were off somewhere doing something stupid (very bad hosting, I might add), so that just left me with Mori and Honey. And Honey was sleeping, so that just left me with Mori. Funfunfun. He sat on the other side of the L-shaped couch, gazing out at nothing.
I suddenly realized I honestly wasn't angry at him. I just wasn't. I don't know if it was the fact that Honey was right there, or that I was insanely sleep-deprived, or… something. But at that exact moment in time I could not be angry at him. Oh, trust me, I tried. But the anger wouldn't come.
I sighed and ran my fingers through Honey's hair again.
I saw Mori look over at me. I looked up at him, meeting his level gaze, and cold fire immediately raced through my veins. It warmed and chilled me at the same time, and my mouth parted a tiny bit in surprise.
It was exactly like it had been the day before, a never ending battle of blue and gray. But, instead of hostile, this was more… surprised. And no matter how hard I tried I could not look away. His eyes bored into mine and trapped me in a way that made it impossible to even blink, and soon enough my heart was pounding in my chest.
I suddenly felt the need to know everything about him, to leap into his arms and stay safe there forever. The fire pulled me towards him, urging me to wrap my arms around his neck and bury my face into his chest. HEY! Get a hold of yourself! I yelled in my head, but I couldn't help my blush as he continued to stare deep into my eyes. I was positive he could see to my very core.
Honey moaned and shifted in my lap, and we both broke the trance to look down at him. Jesus Christ, what WAS that? My mind started flipping out.
I steadied myself with a deep breath. Alright, you CAN'T look at him again, I told myself sternly. That was embarrassing and there's no way you can handle that again. I just fixed my eyes on Honey's sleeping form.
I felt Mori look down at me again, and I actually had to work hard at not returning his gaze. I saw him stand up and start walking over to me.
He kneeled in front of me. I strained to keep my eyes on Honey. What does he think he's doing? I thought. I saw him reach out and my breath caught, my heart beating a gajillion miles an hour. But he just reached to Honey.
I glanced up at him, curious, and my eyes were trapped once again.
"You need to rest," he said in a deep, resonant voice. My breath caught again. This was first time he had said anything to me. I just stared at him for a few seconds, processing what his words actually meant. Then I realized he wanted to take Honey from me, and I gratefully handed the boy into his strong arms.
He returned to his seat and gently laid Honey down on the couch next to him. It was so sweet how much Mori cared for him. More like a brother than a cousin, I thought.
I sighed and decided Mori was right. I needed to rest for a while. But I sure as hell wasn't going to fall asleep while they were still here. I'd just end up walking somewhere and freak Honey out. I grabbed a pillow and laid my head down on it. I'll just rest until they leave, and then I can actually go to sleep, I thought.
But as soon as my eyes slid closed, I was out cold.
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I woke up to find myself moving. I was still too tired to find the muscles that would open my eyes, so I just sat there in a half-asleep state, content to listen to the slow beating heart my head was resting on.
Wait, beating heart? I thought. Then I felt the warm arms that were holding me up, and my eyes snapped open.
Mori was carrying me bridal style through the Hitachiin house.
"GAH!" I yelped, surprised. I squirmed in his arms, and he stopped walking and looked down at me. I pushed against his chest, still blinking the sleep out of my eyes. THIS-IS-SO-EMBARRASSING-THIS-IS-SO-EMBARRASSING-THIS-IS-SO-EMBARRASSING! My head screamed.
He set me down on the ground and I wobbled, searching for the wall for balance. My hands clutched at air and I almost fell flat on my face, but Mori caught and stabled me. I almost shivered at his touch, but I held it back.
I tried to take a few steps forward, but couldn't keep my balance again. Mori snagged my waist with warm arms and pulled me against his chest.
"Vienna." He said.
I couldn't stop my shiver this time. My real name just rolled off his tongue and sounded so beautiful in his deep voice.
I looked up at him and almost cried. He's so beautiful… I thought helplessly, blinking sleepily to make sure he was real. He suddenly swooped me up into his arms again, and my face was incredibly close to his. I blushed and blinked hard, wanting to make sure it wasn't a dream.
I opened them again and he was still there. Wow, I thought. My eyes slipped back closed of their own accord, and my head gently fell against his chest. The slow, rhythmic beating of his heart and his even stride lulled me back to sleep.
~end of C11~
*tear* so sweet! i loved writing that.
please review and suggest and critic and whatever it is you guys do that makes me want to write so much. ^^ ~RBASA