here's the part you've been waiting for!
Over Coffee (pt 2: love)
Tamaki hung up the receiver of the phone, and walked up to the window.
"Wow!" Tamaki pressed his hands to the window of the hotel room, "what a view!"
"Hn," Kyoya responded, writing in his notebook.
"Kyoya, do you ever get your head out of that book?" Tamaki sighed, "do you even pay attention anything else?"
"On the contrary," Kyoya flipped a page in his book, "I pay attention to everything. What do you think is written in this book?"
"When you pay attention to everything, something has to give way to everything," Tamaki deduced.
Kyoya said nothing.
"Of course, it's not hard to tell what has given way in your life," Tamaki stared at Kyoya.
"Oh? And what would that be?" Kyoya continued writing.
"Kijira."
Kyoya stopped writing.
"You haven't given her a second glance in a long time," Tamaki sat down on his bed, "you've just gone to completely ignoring her, haven't you?"
Kyoya looked up at his friend, "how dare you ask me such a question."
"Well it's a valid one," Tamaki folded his arms, "I mean even if you don't love her now-"
"Love her NOW? Why would I not-"
"She didn't even say goodbye when we left," Tamaki accused him. "And you were indifferent to it as well. If that's love then-"
Kyoya slammed Tamaki against the wall, "don't you ever tell me I never loved her, Tamaki Suho. I have loved her and I always will!"
Tamaki looked down at the floor, "you didn't when you married her."
Kyoya slowly let go of his shirt, "no, I didn't."
He went back to sit down on his bed. He took off his glasses.
"But perhaps it's time I elaborated on it."
FLASHBACK
After we got married, we were the biggest power couple in the business world. Two very powerful companies were getting toghther. They had our picture showcased on
magazine covers for weeks. But through all of it, we were just friends. Granted, she was not my closest friend, but she was closer than some.
"Another one," Kijira pushed the magazine to Kyoya on his desk.
"You would think that they would get sick of featuring us," Kyoya flipped to the article. "Ootori and Mizuhaki, true love or empire buildup?"
"They should know better," Kijira started glancing through her homework corrections, "we are obviously going to take over the world."
Kyoya smiled into the magazine. He glanced through the useless information blabbering on about a crazy conspiracy about the shutdown of all other companies in Japan. How
many idiots lived in this world?
"You'd better hope our fathers don't see this one," Kijira told him.
"I hope so," Kyoya set down the article, "being called a 'money grabbing fool' wouldn't please my father in slightest."
"And my father wouldn't like being called 'evil mastermind' much either."
[][][][][][]
Kyoya walked into the host club.
"Hey," Hikaru looked up from his computer game, "why are you here? I thought wifey would make you quit the club."
"Don't be ridiculous," Kyoya pulled his own laptop out of his bag, "I've put too much stock in this club to pull out. Of course I'm staying."
The twins looked at each other and shrugged, "must be the dictator in the relationship."
"Kyoya! Kyoya!" Tamaki ran up to him, "have you read this article?"
He waved the magazine in Kyoya's face.
"I've seen it," Kyoya pushed Tamaki's hand down.
"It's full of trash," Kaoru glanced at the Internet version of the same article, "The only reason Mizuhaki would marry him would be to make him her man slave."
"Nah," Hikaru shook his head, "since he's here, it's got to be the other way around."
"Hey Kyo-chan," Honey waved for his attention, "are you two doing any interviews for the media?"
"None as far as I know," Kyoya booted up his laptop, "Our fathers wanted to keep it quiet. And personally, I'm all for it."
The door opened and a girl walked in.
"Kijira-san!" Tamaki got up from the chair, "I assume you came to see Kyoya?"
"No," Kijira shook her head, "I just came to talk to Haruhi."
The guys fell down on the floor. Kyoya just kept on typing.
"Sure," Haruhi got up from her seat.
She ushered her to another table and they sat down and began talking.
"Doesn't it bother you that Kijira came in here asking for Haruhi instead of you?" Hikaru slunk over next to him with an evil smirk.
"Yeah,"Kaoru slid to his other side, "I mean Haruhi taking precedence over you. That's got to sting."
"Not really," Kyoya stared into his computer, "besides, she already knows Haruhi is a girl."
"WHAT? YOU TOLD HER?" Tamaki banged his hands down on the table.
"Noooo," Kyoya continued typing, "she figured it on her own. If someone took a closer look, they could tell. You're just lucky that this school is full of dimwits."
"And how could you not remember that she knew when Haruhi was the maid of honor?" Kaoru sweatdropped.
Kijira's cell phone went off and she answered it. She looked wary at whatever was said on the other line.
"Okay. Okay. We will be there."
She hung up the phone and looked to Kyoya.
"We have to leave. The parents want to see us."
"Oh?" Kyoya said, "what for?"
Kijira grimaced, "they are setting up an interview."
[][][][][][]
Mitzuhaki senior paced the room. Kyoya and Kijira were sitting in front of Ootori's desk with Ootori himself in front of him.
"I assume you know why we summoned you," Ootori pushed his glasses up his nose. "We are done letting the press have a field day. It's time we set them with one story and only one."
They nodded.
"You have one hour to become presentable, so we will tell you what we want now," Ootori rested his hands on his desk.
"In the interview," Mizuhaki turned to them, "we want you to go for the love angle."
"Love?" Kijira's eyes became small.
"Just for this one interview," Ootori told them.
"With all due respect," Kyoya spoke up, "why not just say that we wanted a secure future? It seems simple enough."
"Because the media twists words and before you know it, you've lost all your business partners," Mizuhaki explained.
"Wouldn't the media twist a love relationship too?" Kijira sweatdropped.
"Perhaps they would, but the harm a twisted truth can cause is much more severe than a romantic story."
"Wouldn't we have to keep up the facade at events and parties?" Kyoya frowned.
"Not to a romantic extent," Mizuhaki shook his head, "just as a couple. Leave the romance in the magazines and just act as a respectable couple in public."
Kyoya looked to Kijira, "what do you think?"
"Unfortuneately, their logic makes sense," Kijira sighed, "this is probably our best option."
Kyoya looked up at his father, "we'll do it."
[][][][][][]
Kyoya and Kijira stood outside the room where the interview was to take place.
"Are you ready?" Kijira looked up to him.
He looked back, "ready as ever."
Kyoya opened the door, revealing a blonde with square glasses and her hair in a bun.
"My name," she shook their hands, "is Hana. And I already know who you two are."
Kijira and Kyoya said nothing.
"Now, let's start the interview, shall we?" the blonde reporter smiled brightly.
Hana sat down in a chair and turned on a recorder on a coffee table. Kyoya raised his eyebrows.
"We are being recorded?" Kijira asked nervously.
"Don't be scared dear," Hana directed them to the couch, "it's just so I don't miss anything."
Kyoya clenched his fists. They couldn't afford any screw ups now.
"Sit down, sit down," Hana admonished.
The two sat down on the couch putting a respective distance between each other.
"Oh, come on you lovebirds." Hana chirped, "it's alright to get comfortable in front of me."
Kyoya scooted close to Kijira until their legs were touching, and let his arm drape over her shoulders. Kyoya felt her slightly tense, then relax a little.
"Awwww, no handholding?" Hana pouted, "well, guess we can't have you TOO comfy."
The two shifted slightly.
"So," Hana clicked her pen on, "we know that you got married, but what were the circumstances?"
"Well, her father announced at her 18th birthday party that she was accepting marriage proposals," Kyoya's glasses glinted, "we were just lucky that our fathers arranged an omiai."
"Oh? Marriage arranged for business that ended in love?" the reporter covered her mouth as if it was scandalous. "Do tell."
"Well it didn't actually end in love," Kijira pressed the wrinkles out of her dress, "we always had love, but the social structure of Ouran High didn't permit it to be open, and the expectations of our family came before our love."
Kyoya looked into the distance, as if remembering the past, "it was almost like, forgive my cliche, a Romeo and Juliet tradgedy."
Kijira and Kyoya 'sneakily' locked ankles for effect. Kyoya felt Kijira tense again. Was it that bad to touch him?
"Did you ever have secret rondevus?" Hana sent her pen scribbling.
Kyoya gave a knowing smile, "that's not really something that should be printed. Besides, isn't this about our marriage?"
Hana wiped something out of her eye, "Of course, but the press didn't get wind of your marriage or even your engagement until a week after the ceremony. Why all the secrecy?"
"We wanted a quiet ceremony and only a few were invited," Kijira explained, "anything grandiose would have ratted us out instantly. It may not seem like it, but our privacy is very important to us."
"So does that mean you don't wear your wedding bands to school?" Hana folded her hands in her lap.
"We don't," Kijira glanced at the ring currently on her finger, "we're probably going to wait until after high school to start wearing them regularly."
"But what about flaunting your love for each other in front of the student populous?" Hana flashed a grin, "like a victory flag."
"This was more of a personal victory and not so much as waving it in others faces," Kyoya fixed his glasses, " I find the thought of flaunting our love perverse. I love her and that's all that matters."
"Just one more question," Hana wrote something on her pad, "what are your plans for the future? Is there going to be a baby involved?"
Kyoya felt Kijira flinch. Did this reporter know how to ask the most awkward questions? He didn't really care to answer that himself.
"We're going to wait and see," Kyoya said diplomatically, "who knows what the future holds?"
Hana smiled and put down her pad. She turned off the tape recorder.
"I just need to take some pictures for the story," Hana told them, "none of the other magazines had pictures of you two togther. Do you mind?"
"Not at all," Kyoya shook his head.
Kijira gave him a nervous look.
"Do we have to?" She whispered to him.
"It makes it look good," he told her in her ear, "just go along with it for now."
There was a camera flashed and the two were momentarily blinded.
"My bad," Hana smiled from behind the camera, "let's take a few of you sitting together."
They sat together giving more room to each other than they had in the interview.
"Good," the camera gave a few snaps,"now sit in those chairs back to back."
They did as she instructed and the pictures were taken.
"Now let's do an intimate one," they could practically hear her voice brimming with excitement.
They were reseated on the couch and Hana made it where Kijira's legs were curled up on the cushions and her head was touching his. They smiled as the camera made another click.
"Thank you for your time," Hana bowed,"the article will be in next week's issue of Business Weekly."
They nodded as smiled as the woman left the room with her things. Once the door was shut Kijira moved to another part of the room and ran her fingers through her hair with worry.
"What's wrong?" Kyoya crossed his legs and watched her, "don't like touching me?"
She paced around the room, "My goodness! A baby! We are supposed to have a baby? Neither of us thought about that!"
Kyoya noted the fact that she avoided the question.
"We won't have to have one now, obviously," Kyoya chose carefully, "I mean we are only third years in high school."
"But our parents will want children," Kijira sat down ungracefully in a chair, "continue the bloodline and all that crap. How are we going to cope with that?"
Kyoya opened his mouth to answer and nothing came out. They could barely sit close to each other much less... He didn't want to think about it.
"I guess we will have to cross that bridge when we get there."
[][][][][][]
Kyoya sat down at his desk in the classroom, looking through the notes in his black notebook.
"KYOYA! YOU LOVER BOY YOU!"
Kyoya had a strong urge to roll his eyes. Tamaki ran up and enveloped his best friend in a hug.
"Why didn't you tell me you and Kijira are lovers?" He cooed.
"Because we aren't," Kyoya dusted the wrinkles out of his uniform jacket.
"Don't deny it," Tamaki grinned.
He whipped out a copy of Business Weekly and opened it to read aloud. Tamaki cleared his throat.
"'we always had love. It was never a question if we got married, it was when'," Tamaki folded his arms as if he just became the undisputed winner of the match.
Kyoya continued writing, undisturbed.
"'I always loved her. She was my whole world'?" Tamaki tried again.
No reaction.
"'I love her and that's all that matters'?" Tamaki sighed weakly.
"Tamaki," Kyoya turned to him, "it's just a magazine. There is next to no truth in it."
It even has crap we didn't say, he thought.
"Why did you tell the reporter a bunch of lies?" Tamaki frowned.
"At my father's request," he went back to writing.
"Then what was the point of going in a interview?" Tamaki rubbed the bridge of his nose.
"To set the story of course. One story to explain it all."
"Well, At least you and Kijira look cute together," Tamaki gave a goofy grin.
Kyoya glanced at the pictures and frowned. They did look happy in those pictures, but he knew that behind all that, Kijira was disgusted to touch him. For some reason, he felt a little disappointment about that.
"You okay?" Tamaki noticed his frowning face.
"Yeah," Kyoya went back to expressionless.
It doesn't seem like it, Tamaki thought, what are you thinking Kyoya Ootori?
[][][][][][]
"Hey Kaoru," Hikaru grinned, "guess who."
He pointed to a girl sitting on a bench, reading a book.
"Heyyy," Kaoru shielded the sun out of his eyes to get a better look, "it's Kijira-senpai."
They grinned at each other and walked up to her and sat on each side of her.
"Hello boys," she set her book in her lap, "what can I do for you two?"
"Well, we were hoping you could enlighten us," Kaoru explained.
"On when the shadow king developed feelings," Hikaru finished, "he's a really dry character, or so it seems. He's always been- what's the word Kaoru?"
"Cynical," Kaoru cracked a smile, "very cynical."
"That's it," Hikaru smiled.
"Why wouldn't he have feelings?" Kijira tilted her head, "I'm sure you've seen him angry at least once."
The twins looked at each other.
"It's not really emotions in general that we are talking about..." Hikaru told her.
"...but the more mushy feelings," Kaoru produced a copy of the recent magazine.
Kijira took the magazine from them and flipped to the article. The twins grinned at each other and put their arms around the back of her shoulders.
"Apathetic," Kijira stated.
"Say what?" The twins frowned.
"He is very apathetic when it comes to his 'mushy' emotions," she closed the magazine, "he has locked them up and they rarely come out, if at all."
"But the article..." Kaoru pointed. "true love..."
"Acting. It was all acting."
"But it's hard to fake those emotions," Hikaru argued.
"What does he do for the Host club?" she looked at the two.
They frowned.
"So, you guys don't love each other?"
She gave them a pitying look.
"Not really."
The twins looked at the pictures the couple had taken.
"Shame. You two look really close," Kaoru shook his head.
Kijira blushed at the picture. That was the closest Kyoya had ever gotten to her. Would it be bad if she said she kind of liked it?
"Excuse me," she broke out of their grip, "I have to go."
The twins watched her leave quickly. They looked at each other and shrugged. What were they supposed to do if their senpai was acting wierd?
[][][][][][]
"Huh?" Hikaru and Kaoru, "You are leaving us?"
"I'm going to America," Haruhi nodded.
"But... the host club..."
"Will be fine without me," she said with finality.
"Stop her!" they turned to Tamaki.
"Actually," Tamaki smiled, I'm supporting her."
The twins fell down on the floor.
"Kyoya-senpai!"
"We wish you the best," Kyoya nodded.
"What? That's it? No trying to stop her?"
Tamaki smiled, "Noooo. Why would I? What would be the point of stopping her when I'm going with her?"
"WHAT? WHEN DID YOU DECIDE TO COME WITH ME?"
"I-I thought you knew..." Tamaki stuttered.
"ARE YOU KIDDI-"
"Uhhhh..." Kijira looked at them nervously, "let's leave them alone."
The two were fighting in the club room when the rest of them left. Mori shut the door behind them.
"I'm sad," Honey sniffed, "I'm gonna miss them a lot."
Mori nodded. The twins wiped tears from their eyes. Kijira sat down on a chair and sighed.
"I don't know why you guys aren't so emotional," Kyoya began writing in his notebook, "didn't you know the school and the university are letting us go to Boston with them as well?"
"Say what?" the twins turned to him.
"Do I need to spell it out?" Kyoya sighed as he continued writing.
No one said anything
"Oh? So you guys don't want to go?" Kyoya looked up from his notebook.
Then it dawned on them.
"YAY!" Honey jumped.
"United States?" Hikaru tilted his head.
America, Kijira's eyes widened, "am I going too?"
"Of course," Kyoya continued writing in his book, "why wouldn't you?"
"We should surprise them," Hikaru grinned.
"Yeah," Kaoru threw an arm around his brother, "drop in to say hello when we get there."
"There are three apartments," Kyoya flipped a page in his book, "I assume you all know who's sharing with who."
Wait, Kijira's eyes widened. If Honey is rooming with Mori, and Kaoru is with Hikaru, then...
She covered her mouth and felt herself blushing. They were going to share a room? Okay yes, they were married, and yes sharing an apartment should be expected, but just the thought...
"Hey Ki-chan," Honey walked up to her, "are you okay?"
The twins glanced at Kijira. Mori looked up at her as well.
"Yeah," Kaoru commented, "your face looks a little red."
"I-I'm fine," she got up hurriedly. "Excuse me."
Kyoya looked up from his notebook.
She walked quickly down the hallway and the rest of the club watched her disappear around the corner.
"Well, well," Hikaru placed his hand on his chin. "It seems someone doesn't want to go to America."
Kyoya was still staring where Kijira turned the corner. His glasses were only reflections. Honey frowned.
"I'm going to check on Ki-chan," Honey walked down the hallway with Mori.
[][][][][][]
Kijira got to the school garden before she stopped. She sat down on a bench and put her head in her hands.
What was she going to do? Going to America... but share a room with Kyoya?
"Ki-chan?" Honey walked up with Mori behind him.
"Oh," she sat up straight, "hey Honey-senpai."
"Are you okay Ki-chan?" Hani looked at her with concern.
"Yeah," she pushed a piece of hair behind her ear, "I'm perfectly fine."
She tried to smile, but Mori put a hand on her shoulder.
"Lying doesn't make it any better," Mori told her.
She sighed and looked up at Mori.
"Do you mind telling us what's on your mind, Ki-chan?"
Kijira scratched the back of her head, "well... I'm kind of worried about America."
Honey nodded, "going to a new place is kinda scary."
"It's not the new place as much as the new living quarters," she stared at a bush of roses.
"You will be sharing an apartment with Kyo-chan, right?" Honey asked her.
She nodded.
"Aren't you living with him now?"
Kijira shook her head, "we were planning on moving in after we graduated, but I wasn't prepared for it to happen so suddenly."
"What exactly are you worried about?" Mori injected.
"Everything. Will we have enough closet space? Who will do what chores? Is there some sort of schedule we will have to work out?" How close will we have to be when we get there?
"Don't worry," Honey smiled, "it will work out. And if you need to talk to someone, Usa-chan will be sharing a room with us."
He held the stuffed bunny out for her to hold. She took the bunny.
"Then I'll have to come visit you sometime Usa-chan," she smiled.
Honey gave a little laugh, and Mori had a small smile on his face.
[][][][][][]
"What's up with her?" Kaoru jerked a finger at Kijira, who was helping Haruhi with plans for when her and Tamaki left.
Kyoya shrugged his shoulders, "as if I know."
"She seems ancy," Tamaki watched them, "is she going somewhere new?"
Kyoya and Kaoru exchanged glances. Hikaru walked up to the girls and sat in between them, saying something with a gleeful expression.
"Ah!" Tamaki got up to separate Hikaru from his girlfriend.
Kaoru turned back to Kyoya, "do you really not know what's wrong with her?"
"Are you sure there is anything wrong with Kijira?" Kyoya said in a irritated tone.
"Like the boss said," Kaoru gestured to them, "she seems really nervous. Maybe she doesn't want to go America."
Tamaki was yelling at Hikaru, who was taking the angry outbursts with a cool expression.
Kyoya looked out the window. He hadn't thought she wouldn't want to go. Maybe there was a reason behind her nerves.
The girls were scooting farther and farther from the noise.
It wasn't fair to assume she just wanted to go, even if it was America.
The girls got up quietly while Tamaki and Hikaru continued fighting.
Kyoya decided he would clear it up with her. There was no reason to force her to something she didn't want to.
[][][][][][]
Kijira laid down on her bed with her hair tied up in a ponytail. She was wearing a t shirt and basketball shorts. Kijira was glad to be home, the one place where her appearance didn't matter. One of the downsides of being rich was that you had to act accordingly.
She pulled up a file on her laptop and began typing. There was a knock on the door.
"Come in."
Kyoya opened the door and saw Kijira on the bed.
"Comfortable?" Kyoya sat down on the edge of her bed.
She looked up.
"I am," she smiled at him.
The corners of his lips turned up.
"I came here ask you a question," he fixed his glasses.
Kijira finished typing something and sat up on the bed next to him.
"Yes?"
"Do you want to go to America?"
Kijira blinked at the question.
"What?"
"I know the opportunity is there," Kyoya told her, "but do you actually want to go?"
Kijira looked at him with a confused look, "why wouldn't I?"
Kyoya shrugged, "I just thought you might not want to go. No one actually asked if you wanted to, so I am now."
Kijira stared out the window. She thought about it. She had a chance to back out, but at what cost? The only thing stopping her from going was her comfort zone.
She sucked in air, "I don't mind."
"Are you sure?" Kyoya looked at her.
She closed her eyes and took another breath. Kijira opened them again and smiled warmly at Kyoya.
"I don't mind going to America with you."
Kyoya's eyes widened. She wanted to go? She really and truly wanted to go? He closed his eyes. Now he knew he wasn't forcing her to do anything.
"So what were you doing when I interrupted you?" Kyoya looked at her laptop.
"Oh," she pulled up the window she had been using, "I am writing out an idea for this vineyard my father has in California that he doesn't use. I think I've found a way to pull some income from it."
Kyoya scrolled through the plan she had laid out.
"This very interesting," he tilted the laptop back to her, "there are a few flaws, but with a little work this would work out perfectly. Would you like some help?"
"Sure," she smiled.
She set the laptop on her desk and pulled up two chairs to it.
"What I noticed," he pointed to the screen, "is that you don't state..."
[][][][][][]
The two worked on the plan until Kijira suggested dinner. Kyoya continued working while Kijira brought up some food and tea.
"Why don't you take a break?" she laid the food on the table.
"I just need to write this out then-"
"It will be there after you eat something," she pulled him from the desk.
Kyoya glanced at the meal.
"Noodles?"
He sat down in front of a bowl.
"The cooks weren't in so I prepared them myself," she explained, picking up a bowl, "if it tastes bad then I can always get something else."
Kyoya picked his utensils and tried some. They weren't half bad. And considering he hadn't eaten in eight hours made them taste even better.
"Well?" she looked at him expectantly.
"Not bad," he gave her a nod.
She shrugged and took a sip of tea.
"I'll let you finish eating, I'm going to take another look at the plan," she got up from the table.
She sat down at the desk and began scrolling through the window once more. Once Kyoya finished eating he returned to the other chair and they went back to staring at the screen.
"I think we need that old revinue paper," she pointed to a name on the screen, "I know where he keeps these files, so I'll be right back.
She got up hurriedly and went to get the paper. Kyoya continued to type something and got up to look at a paper in the collection of papers on her bed. He read through it with a furrowed brow.
"I have it," she reentered the room waving it in the air.
Kyoya looked up just in time to see Kijira trip on a fold in the carpet.
"Ah!"
He let his paper fall as he caught her and they went crashing down on the bed. Papers went flying through the air.
She winced at the harsh landing. Kijira looked up and they looked in each other's eyes while papers fluttered to the ground. It took Kijira a few minutes before she realized that they were in a compromising position.
Kijira pushed up off him and fell to a sitting position on the floor. She turned her focus back to the scattered papers on the floor so he wouldn't see her blushing.
Kyoya was still laying back on the bed, staring at the ceiling.
"I'm sorry," Kijira stared at the floor.
He looked down at her sitting, pulling papers towards her. Kyoya slid to the floor to help her.
"It's fine."
They put the papers back on the bed and Kijira pulled the one she went to get out of a stack.
"Here."
They looked at the paper, then they looked at each other. Kijira and Kyoya started to chuckle and chuckle until it grew into all out laughter. All that fuss that ended with one paper. They ended up clutching their sides.
"Eh," she wiped a tear out of her eye, "why don't we get back to work?"
"Sure," he chuckled.
Kyoya helped her to her feet and they went back to the desk.
[][][][][][]
"And... there," Kijira put final touches on the project.
She tucked the papers into a folder labeled 'California Vineyard by Kijira and Kyoya Ootori'
"Hey Kyoya," she looked up from the folder, "why did you put my name first?"
Kyoya was putting away the paper they had used.
"Because it was your idea," he looked up, "I just elaborated on it."
Kyoya checked his watch.
"It's really late, I'd better be getting home."
Kijira nodded, "let me walk you to the door."
"Thank you for your help," Kijira told him.
"It's nothing," he waved a hand.
Besides, he thought with a smile, I actually had fun.
They reached the door and Kyoya opened it, "see you at school."
Kijira watched as he walked away. She shut the door.
"Yeah."
[][][][][][]
"Kyoya," Fuyumi blinked, "it's eleven o'clock at night. Why are you out so late?"
Kyoya shut the door to his room.
"I was helping Kijira with a project and I lost track of time."
Fuyumi smiled a big smile and she started blushing with happiness.
"What?" Kyoya looked at her, somewhat irritated.
"You must like her a lot to bother with things such as a project," Fuyumi inspected her younger brother.
"It wasn't a bother," Kyoya flipped through a book on his desk, "it was just a project."
"You two are so cute," she gushed, "it's like you guys should get together."
"We're married," he sweatdropped.
"But you don't act like it," she corrected him.
He sighed, "does it really matter?"
Fuyumi watched as her brother flipped through a book and began to read it.
It does, she thought, because deep down there she should be even more than your best friend. And I think, somewhere deep down, she is.
[][][][][][]
Mizuhaki walked into his office in the early morning getting ready to start his work day. He noticed a folder on his desk.
"California Vineyard, huh?" he opened it and flipped it open.
This should be good, he thought.
[][][][][][]
Kijira walked through the courtyard of Ouran High. She spotted Haruhi.
"Hey," she walked up to her, "you're leaving today, right?"
Haruhi nodded, "we are boarding the plane this afternoon."
"I'm gonna miss you," Kijira hugged her.
"I'll miss you too," Haruhi smiled, "I hope we can see each other soon."
It will be sooner than you think, Kijira smiled inwardly.
[][][][][][]
The gang was at the airport saying goodbye to Haruhi and Tamaki. There were hugs and the guest girls were crying.
"We are leaving tomorrow, right?" Kijira whispered in Kyoya's ear.
The plane began it's circle before it took off.
"Yes," he nodded, " we will all be boarding a plane tomorrow."
Hikaru and Kaoru grinned.
"Won't they be surprised to see us?"
[][][][][][]
The club was at the airport the next day, getting preparations ready to board the plane. The twins were scouting the airport, while Honey was standing next to Mori. And Mori was explaining to the ticket lady that Honey, was in fact, nineteen. Kijira was sitting on a bench waiting for the call to board the plane.
Kijira took a deep breath and looked out the window to where the plane was resting, being prepared to take off.
"What's the matter, don't like flying?" Kyoya in an amused voice.
He sat down next to her on the bench.
"Flying is okay," she turned to him.
"You seem to have the nerves you've had all week," he informed her. In fact, the only time I haven't seen you with nerves is when we were working on the project.
She smiled a broad smile and glanced down at her wedding ring. Kijira knew her nerves were more in anticipation than what they had been before.
"It just feels like we are moving to another chapter in our lives," she fingered her ring on her left hand.
"It's because we are," Kyoya said insightfully, "we will probably never go back to Ouran again. Just out of curiosity though, why did you wear your wedding ring?"
"Oh this?" Kijira glanced at her hand, "I don't know really, it just seemed fitting, seeing as all of us are starting new."
Kyoya nodded, "interesting."
Kijira sat silent for a moment. Then she saw her father walk up.
"Mizuhaki-san?" Kyoya looked up.
"Before you leave," he pulled out a folder, "I believe you will need this."
Kijira took the folder and read it.
"California Vineyard?" looked up at her father.
"You'll need the plans if you are going to run it," Mizihaki smiled.
Kijira's eyes widened.
"Yes, I'm giving it to you two. I hope you make something out of it."
"Thank you," she bowed
Kyoya fixed his glasses.
Mizuhaki walked away with a smile.
Kijira stared down at the folder.
"We should go visit it after the apartment gets settled," Kyoya commented.
She tightened her grip on the folder.
"Yeah."
He looked out to where she had been staring out, his glasses reflecting. The intercom called for then flight going to America. He stood up.
He offered her his left hand.
Kijira blinked at the ring on his hand. She had worn her ring just because she felt like it. She didn't expect Kyoya to wear his. When did he slip it on?
She took his hand and got up.
Kyoya and Kijira walked into the line. Honey and Mori watched the two.
"Do you think she knows he was wearing it the whole time?" Honey turned to Mori.
Mori said nothing.
"Let's board the plane Mitskuni," Mori shouldered his bag.
They boarded the plane and the flight attendant made last call for passengers.
"Hey!" the twins grabbed their stuff, "wait for us!"
[][][][][][]
Once they boarded the plane, (first class of course) Honey and Mori settled into a front seat, Kijira and Kyoya behind them, and Hikaru and Kaoru in the back.
"Why are we sitting back here?" Hikaru asked his brother.
"Don't you know?" Kaoru pointed to Mori putting bunny luggage in the rack, and Kijira adjusting her seat.
Hikaru watched them.
"These are the interesting seats," Kaoru grinned.
Hikaru's mouth turned into a chesire grin. They were going to have fun today.
Kijira had pulled out her laptop and was working. Kyoya was casually looking over her shoulder.
"Hey," Hikaru poked his brother, "fun time."
Kaoru shrugged off his headphones and sat up. He nodded with a thumbs up. He shrank to the floor and disappeared. Kijira was typing on her laptop when someone bumped the back of her chair.
"Ow! Kaoru!"
Hikaru looked up from his magazine.
"Hm? Kaoru went to the bathroom," he told her.
"Then why did YOU hit the back of my seat?" she turned to glare at him.
Hikaru gave her a weird look and went back to reading. Kijira took a deep breath to control her anger and went back to her laptop.
"Don't worry, it's just how the twins act," Kyoya murmured in her ear.
Kijira looked up at him. The seat was jolted again and there was a near repeat of what happened in the host club room. But this time she had landed a kiss on his cheek.
Hikaru burst into laughter and Kijira started to blush.
"Kaoru," Kyoya grabbed a bundle of hair out from under the seat.
"Owowowowowow-"
"I think you should sit down before you get hurt," Kyoya stared him in the eye, "don't you?"
Kijira tried to hide a smile as Kaoru shrunk back to his seat. It was funny to watch the twins become scared, even if it proved her husband was slightly sadist. At least they weren't bothered for the rest of the flight.
PRESENT
"So, thats how you guys got to America," Tamaki's eyebrow twitched.
"Did you honestly think we were just going to let you go without us?" Kyoya had started writing in his notebook again.
Tamaki sighed, "alright, I already know what happens next. You guys pop in on us and that goes down. What I want to know is your feelings towards Kijira were at that point."
Kyoya stopped writing, "at that point she had become the closest thing to a best friend I had. But it was disappointing that she hated any form of physical contact involving me."
"But that was obviously not true," Tamaki argued.
"I didn't know that," Kyoya fixed his glasses, "but let's continue the story."
FLASHBACK
"Here's the apartment," Kyoya unlocked the door.
Kijira walked in the door. The apartment was charming to her. She looked around. There was a small kitchen and a couch with a TV. There were two other doors in the apartment as well.
Kijira set down her bag and opened the first door. There was a bathroom with a shower/tub, sink, toilet, and everything. In the second door was the bedroom with two lamps on the bed tables and... only one bed.
Kijira set her things on the bed and looked around the room.
I guess I'll cope, she thought.
She went into the kitchen again and Kyoya was sitting at the table. Kijira opened the fridge.
"There's nothing in there," Kyoya told her.
"I thought so," she shut the door, "I'll drop by a supermarket after we unpack."
He nodded, "let's get started."
[][][][][][]
They finished unpacking and Kijira checked the time.
Kijira looked up at Kyoya, "it's already past lunchtime. But it's a little late to go to the store."
"Hey," Hikaru popped his head in, "we're going to Haruhi's to get some lunch."
"Wanna come?" Kaoru popped his head in.
"Sure," Kijira and Kyoya said at the same time.
"Let's go!" they popped out of the doorway.
Kijira followed them down the hallway while Kyoya locked the door.
[][][][][][][]
Haruhi was in her kitchen preparing some curry.
"Hello beautifiul," Tamaki whispered in her ear.
Tamaki had cornered Haruhi to the counter.
"Tamaki, I have to finish lunch," Haruhi looked up from her pot. "I didn't invite you over for nothing."
"I know," he kissed her cheek, "but can't I help?"
Haruhi smiled, "stir the pot."
The doorbell rang.
Haruhi handed him the spoon and she went to answer the door.
"Hello!" the twins smiled.
Tamaki stared at the door.
"What are you two doing here?" he pointed at them with the spoon.
"We were hungry," they shrugged.
Haruhi looked out the door, "Kyoya-senpai? Kijira-senpai?"
"Need any help with lunch?" Kijira offered.
"I'm sure I'll- Tamaki!" Haruhi ran over to the pot, "you were just going to let if burn?"
"Ah!" Tamaki turned around from the grinning twins, "I'm sorry!"
"It's fine," Haruhi waved him off, "entertain them at your apartment, and we'll cook lunch."
Tamaki nodded and showed them to the apartment next door.
"What are we making?" Kijira washed her hands.
"Curry," Haruhi pulled out another pot, "do I need to tell you how?"
Kijira smiled, "I think I have it."
Kijira put some water in the pot and let it boil.
"Sorry," Haruhi scratched the back of her head, "my past experience has left me with little faith in the rich."
Kijira chuckled, "as the daughter of an agricultural businessman I'm expected to be able to cook. Do you have an extra apron?"
Haruhi tossed her an apron. Kijira tied up her hair and the apron.
They started the curry and then sat down at the table.
"You aren't sharing an apartment with Tamaki I assume?" Kijira asked.
"No," she shook her head, "I came here to study and I won't have it any other way."
Kijira chuckled, "knowing Tamaki, I'm sure he didn't leave it there."
Haruhi rolled her eyes and motioned to the shelf in front of a door. Kijira raised an eyebrow.
"He called it 'the love door'," Haruhi explained.
The girls looked at each other. They burst into laughter.
"I would worry," Kijira giggled, "he'll probably propose in time."
"Yeah," Haruhi wiped tears out of her eyes. "that's what I worry about."
Kijira laughed and stirred the pots.
"They're almost ready, let's go get the others," Kijira put lids on the pots.
The girls walked to the door of Tamaki's apartment. Haruhi opened it.
The twins has pinned a squirming Tamaki to the floor while Kyoya was reading a book on a couch. The girls sweatdropped.
"Lunch is ready..." Haruhi said nervously.
"Hm?" the twins looked up, "oh! Lunch."
They got off of Tamaki and walked into Haruhi's apartment. Kyoya got up as well.
"Shall we?" he escorted them to the other room.
"Hey!" Tamaki jumped off the floor. "Wait for me!"
[][][][][][]
That night, Kijira sat down at the kichen table with her laptop.
"What are you doing?" Kyoya peered over her shoulder.
"I'm looking at the classes that we are able to take at the scho-why are you wet?"
Kijira looked up to see Kyoya standing next to her with no glasses on... only wearing a towel.
"Hm? Oh sorry, I just got out of the shower," his hair dripped onto the floor.
"Ah," Kijira focused all her attention on the computer in hopes of seeming indifferent.
But in reality, it was very distracting to have a half naked man looking at something over your shoulder. Especially if he was a really good looking man.
He walked into the bedroom for a minute and came back out drying his hair with the towel.
Okay... now it was TOO distracting.
"I'm going to Haruhi's for awhile," Kijira shut the laptop and walked quickly out the door.
Kyoya stared at the door for a moment, then tightened the drawstring on his pajama pants. He tossed the towel in the laundry basket.
[][][][][][]
"Ummm, why are you here again?" Haruhi finished brushing her teeth.
"I thought you could use some comany," Kijira lied.
Haruhi turned from the sink and folded her arms, "it's eleven at night and I've been around people all day. Unless you can come up a better excuse I'm going to kick you out, senpai."
Kijira pulled her knees up to her chest on Haruhi's couch.
"Because Kyoya's half naked in our apartment," she muttered to her legs.
"Wait, what?" Haruhi spluttered.
Kijira buried her face in her knees. Haruhi busted up laughing.
"You wouldn't be laughing if Tamaki was prancing around your apartment in nothing but a towel," Kijira blushed.
"You're probably right," Haruhi stifled her laughter as she sat down next to Kijira. "Let me ask you ask a few questions."
Kijira stared at the blank TV.
"Does your chest hurt when you think about Kyoya?"
"Sometimes..." Kijira murmured
"Do you think he's respectable?"
"Of course," Kijira nodded.
"Are you happy when he's happy?"
Kijira thought back to when they had cleaned up the papers off the floor and all the laughing they had done.
"Yeah..." she smiled to herself.
"Do you distinguish his voice better than other people's?" Haruhi continued.
Kijira started blushing, "maybe..."
Haruhi smiled, "the answer is simple: you love him."
Kijira sat there in a blank state of shock. Haruhi patted her on the back.
"That's how I felt when I realized it about Tamaki."
Kijira buried her face in her knees. She started crying.
Haruhi's face went serious, "what's wrong?"
"I don't want to be in love," tears ran down her face, "I'm in an arranged marriage, I can't fall in love."
Haruhi moved closer to her, "it will be okay."
"No it won't," she buried her face in her hands, "because he doesn't feel the same and I have to live with that for the rest of my life."
Haruhi put an arm around her. Haruhi's phone went off. She went to her bedroom to answer it.
"Kyoya? Yeah she's here," Haruhi told him, "ummm, we are going to watch a few movies I just rented. She will be back by morning. Okay. Bye."
Haruhi hung up the phone and returned to Kijira with a blanket and a box of tissues. Haruhi had seen this girl be indifferent about some pretty strong things, but she was
dissolved in tears about her own feelings?
"Crash on the couch," Haruhi gave her the items, "I'll wake you in the morning."
[][][][][][]
Kyoya walked into the kitchen with a mutter and a yawn. Kijira was making breakfast.
"Oh," Kijira looked over at Kyoya, "good morning."
Kyoya muttered something unintelligible and sat down at the table. Kijira sat a cup of coffee in front of him. Kyoya muttered something else and took a sip. After five minutes of coffee sucking, he returned to normal.
"How were the movies?" Kyoya finished his coffee.
"Movie-ah yeah," Kijira filled his cup back up, "they were good."
"Is that why your eyes are red from crying?" Kyoya observed.
Kijira nodded, not missing a beat, "there were some heart wrenching scenes in it."
"Hmmmm..." Kyoya looked into his cup.
"Is there something wrong?" Kijira sat down at the table.
"No," Kyoya shrugged casually, "unless you count lying as something wrong."
Kijira frowned, "are you lying about something to someone?"
"I'M not," he set his cup down.
"Are you insinuating something about me?" Kijira narrowed her eyes.
"Tamaki was telling me about the movies Haruhi had rented the other day," he watched her carefully, "I hardly find comedies something to cry over."
Kijira went still for a moment.
"Their acting was bad," Kijira said lamely.
"So you cried because of a director's lack of casting sense," Kyoya sat back and nodded.
"What exactly do you want from me?" Kijira folded her arms
"The truth," Kyoya said, "why did you spend last night crying your eyes out?"
Kijira stared at the floor, "no reason."
Kyoya took a long, hard look at her.
"Why do you even care? The information won't benefit you in any way," Kijira spat bitterly.
Kyoya stood up.
"No," he said quietly, "perhaps it won't."
They were silent for a moment.
"Tamaki asked me to go with him in town. I've decided to take his offer up. I will be back later," Kyoya walked out the door.
Kijira sat silently at the table. Tears began running down her face.
Oh great, she thought angrily, I'm becoming a sniveling crybaby.
[][][][][][]
Kijira laid on the couch staring at the ceiling. She hadn't moved around much since Kyoya had left the house. Kijira shifted her head slightly to check the time.
9:15 P.M.
She sighed and decided to go out for awhile. It wasn't healthy to be cooped up for the whole day.
Kijira shrugged on a coat and walked locked the apartment door. She walked down the stairs and saw Haruhi staring out the door.
"Haruhi?"
"Mmm? Oh hi Kijira-senpai," she nodded, "what are you doing out so late?"
"I was going to take a walk, you do you want to come with me?" Kijira gestured at the door.
"Okay," Haruhi shrugged.
They opened the door and walked out.
"Where's Kyoya-senpai?" Haruhi asked.
"Out with Tamaki," Kijira shrugged.
"Still?" Haruhi blinked disbelievingly, "wasn't that like over 12 hours ago?"
"Yeah," Kijira stared at the ground as she walked.
Haruhi watched Kijira for a moment.
"You're obviously not okay," Haruhi stated, "what's wrong?"
"Yeah," a slimy voice said, "what's wrong hotcakes?"
The two girls glanced at the wall it came from. There were five guys in dirty clothing leaning against the wall.
"What's wrong baby?" one flicked a cigarette out if his fingers, "do you need some love?"
Kijira grabbed Haruhi's wrist and quickly walked away.
"Hey sweetheart! Don't leave us by ourselves!" one hollered.
"But those birdies look pretty from the back," another whistled.
"Are you just going to take that?" Haruhi struggled against Kijira.
"Yes," Kijira said with a deadly quietness in her voice, "or they are going to take us."
Haruhi froze at the horror of that statement, then Kijira pulled her along and kept walking.
"Hey!" one cackled, "wait for us!"
Running footsteps got nearer and nearer.
"Run Haruhi," Kijira pushed her, "run!"
Haruhi began running for her life. She took twists and turns around corners until she ran out of breath. She collapsed on a brick wall when she couldn't go any farther.
"Do you think we lost them Kijira-senpai?" Haruhi wheezed. "Senpai? Senpai!"
[][][][][][]
Tamaki and Kyoya were walking down the street looking at all the shops. Tamaki was bedazzled by all the shops and things inside. Kyoya just stared at whatever window had caught Tamaki's attention at the moment, but found himself having no concentration. His thoughts kept going back to that pair of red eyes making breakfast.
Tamaki's cell phone beeped. He answered the call.
"Hello?" he opened the phone.
A flurry of sound came from the other line.
"What? I'm coming!" Tamaki shut the phone.
Kyoya raised his eyebrows at Tamaki's grim expression.
"Come on, it's Kijira," Tamaki pulled him along.
Kyoya felt his stomach drop.
"Just pray that it is not too late."
"Well, well," one of the guys grinned, "what do we have here?"
"Leave me alone," Kijira backed into a wall.
"She still has backbone," another guy laughed.
"Yeah, well," one of the guys gave a greasy smile and grabbed her wrist, "I like 'em fiesty."
She winced at the amount of force that was being put on her wrist.
"Didn't you hear her?" a voice said, "leave her alone."
Kijira looked up.
"Mori-senpai," she whispered.
"Mind your own business you punk kid," one of them barked at Mori.
"I'll ask you one more time," Mori stepped forward.
"Oh yeah," the leader sneered, "what can you do?"
Kijira covered her head as she heard kicks and punches fly in every direction. She only looked up when the sound stopped.
The only one standing there was Mori.
"Can you stand?" Mori asked her softly.
She looked up at him and nodded. She pushed off the ground and stood with a wobbly smile.
"I want to thank- ah!" she felt her legs give way.
Mori caught her.
"Your nervous system must gone gone through an overhaul. I'll take you to the hospital," he picked her up.
She looked up at him, "where's Honey-senpai?"
"At home."
She looked down and nodded. She didn't ask how he had found her, she just accepted the fact that someone had saved her. Kijira felt so tired, she went limp in Mori's arms. She only wanted to rest for a minute. She felt her world dissolve into black.
"Kijira-senpai! Kijira-senpai! Are you okay?" Haruhi ran up to her with Tamaki and Kyoya in tow.
"Haruhi, I'm fine," Kijira smiled weakly.
"You don't look fine!" Tamaki said with a furrowed brow.
Kijira glanced at herself. Cuts and scrapes lined her body, and she was sure that bruises were forming. She had taken quite a few tumbles trying to get away.
She looked at the others, worry all over Tamaki's and Haruhi's face. But Kyoya was expressionless, with his glasses only reflecting light.
"She needs to go to the hospital," Mori said with finality.
"Alright," Tamaki sighed, "let's take her."
[][][][][][]
Everyone sat in the waiting room while Kijira was with the doctor.
"I'm sorry you guys,"Haruhi stared at the floor, "I just kept running... and then I lost her."
"It's alright," Tamaki put an arm around her, "it will be alright."
Mori checked the time.
"I have to go," he stood up.
Kyoya nodded, his glasses still shining in the light.
"Thank you."
Mori nodded and walked down the hallway.
"Excuse me," a doctor came into the room, "is there someone that came with Kijira Ootori?"
Kyoya stood up, "we did."
"Ah, is there any family? It's rather late for her to see friends."
"Is her husband family enough to see her?" Kyoya asked coldly.
"Oh, I see," the doctor said nervously, "this way."
The doctor took them to a room where Kijira was sitting in a bed reading a book.
"She'll be fine," the doctor told them, "we can keep her overnight if you want."
"No," Kyoya shook his head, "Tamaki, go get the car. We're leaving."
The doctor had a surprised look on his face, but said nothing. He walked on, leaving Haruhi and Kyoya standing there.
"Kyoya-senpai," Haruhi looked up at him, "why do you want to get out of the hospital so badly?"
"Because this doctor has done next to nothing for her and the only other thing he can do is suck the money out of my wallet," Kyoya said stiffly.
"Kyoya-senpai, is money all you can think about?" Haruhi frowned.
"Haruhi can you tell her to get dressed and help her get ready?" Kyoya sidestepped the question.
Haruhi glanced at her senpai and walked into the room. Kyoya walked circles in the hallway, waiting.
That quack of a doctor should have his liscense revoked, he paced. Kyoya slammed his fist into the wall. Why was he so furious?
What was it? He felt so angry like he never had before. There was so much pent up rage inside him. Even the first time he met Tamaki couldn't compare.
Maybe it wasn't anger... but worry. But that brought up another question.
Why was he so worried?
She was his best friend, that was true, but it would take much stronger bonds to bring up these emotions.
What if... the bonds were stronger?
But that's ridiculous, he shook his head, if I felt that way about her wouldn't I... love her?
He put his head to the wall. Love... Love...
He put his hand on his forehead and took off his glasses. What an idiot he had been.
Tamaki walked into the hospital and saw Kyoya.
"Are you okay buddy?"
Kyoya put his glasses back on.
"Yes, I'm fine."
He would just have to hold it together until they got to the apartment.
Haruhi walked out of the room with Kijira in a wheelchair. Kyoya felt his stomach drop at the sight of it.
"Standard procedure," Haruhi shrugged.
Kyoya's glasses shone, "let's just go."
The group ended up in front of the apartment complex and Tamaki cut the engine. They sat there for a moment. One by one, they got out of the car and headed toward the entrance. Honey came running out of the apartment building in his pajamas.
"Ki-chan! Are you alright!" he hugged her knees.
"I'm fine," she patted his head and knelt down.
Honey touched the bandage that covered a cut on her face. Kyoya began trekking to the door.
Mori was standing in the doorway as Kyoya passed by to the stairs.
Mori watched as Kyoya ascended up the stairs.
"We were worried," Tamaki tried to smile as they walked inside.
"Don't be," Kijira waved a hand.
They went up the stairs to Kyoya's and Kijira's apartment.
Tamaki tried to keep the conversation light as they entered the apartment. Kijira sighed as she sat down at the kitchen chair. Whatever nerves she had earlier, were gone.
"Thank you," Kyoya waved the group away from the apartment and slammed the door.
"It's good to be home," Kijira sighed.
After all that fuss, just getting home was a blessing.
Kyoya banged his fist on the table. Kijira looked up in surprise. He was shaking.
"What in the world were you doing out at night, alone?" Kyoya asked slowly.
He was going to attempt to keep his temper in check.
"I wasn't alone," she said simply, "Haruhi was with me."
Kyoya gritted his teeth, "even more wonderful. I'm paying for a doctor's bill because you were out at night with just Haruhi."
"If paying a bill infuriates you so much," Kijira narrowed her eyes, "I'll pay it myself."
Kyoya slammed her chair against the wall and stared into her face inches away from his own. Her eyes widened. She saw tears forming in his eyes.
"It wasn't the bill I was worried about."
He started shaking again.
"When I saw Mori holding your limp body," he looked down at the floor, "I thought you had died."
She touched one of his waves of hairs, "but I didn't."
A something dripped off his face. It couldn't have possibly been a tear, could it?
"Don't you ever scare me like that again."
"Why? why are you so worried all of a sudden?" she waited.
"Because," he looked up in her eyes, "because I couldn't bear to lose you. Because... because I love you."
The look of surprise melted off her face into a warm smile. She tried to blink her own tears out of her eyes. She reached closer to him.
"I love you too," and leaned in all the way.
Kyoya took her up and kissed her. Kijira pulled his glasses off gently and wiped tears out of his eyes. Kyoya pressed his forehead to hers.
Kijira let out a laugh.
"What's so funny?" Kyoya asked.
"Hearing you say that," she felt a smile light up her face, "it's like a dream."
He smiled and kissed her again. He pulled her to the couch and she rested her head on his chest. After twenty minutes or so she tried to get up.
"I don't mean to sound unromantic, but I'm really tired," Kijira pushed up, "I do want some sleep."
"Sorry for this lapse of manners," Kyoya pulled her to his chest, "but we've been married for what? 3 months? This is a luxury I haven't taken advantage of. I'm going to hold you for as long as I please."
"Why do you want to hold me?" Kijira said, slightly irritated, slightly amused, "you don't gain anything by doing that."
"... that's what you think."
[][][][][][]
Kijira slowly opened her eyes. She felt warmth envelope her. She looked around herself.
Arms.
There were arms around her. Kijira took a minute to remeber what had happened last night. She felt her cheeks heat up.
She turned her head up and saw Kyoya had fallen asleep. Kijira turned her head back to it's original position and noticed Kyoya's glasses on the coffee table in front of the couch. Kijira quietly pulled them off the table and toyed with them. He looked so handsome without them, why didn't he wear contacts?
Kijira shook her head. She would probably never know.
"Kijira!" the twins burst through the door, "we heard about the accident. Are you okay?"
Kijira jumped out of Kyoya's arms and fell to the floor. Kyoya jolted awake and Kijira rubbed her head.
"Uh... Kijira?" the twins tilted their heads.
"If you value your life," Kyoya rasped as he sat up, "you will leave. NOW."
Hikaru and Kaoru went pale and backed out of the room very carefully. Once they hit the doorframe they sprinted to the stairs.
Kyoya muttered and turned over on the couch. Kijira chuckled and patted him on the back.
"How nice of you Kyoya-kun."
Kyoya turned and looked at her with a fierce glare.
"If you value your own life, you will leave as well," Kyoya growled.
Kijira smothered her laughter. This morning demon couldn't scare her after what she had been through. Kijira got dressed and left the apartment.
[][][][][][]
Hikaru and Kaoru ran into their own apartment and locked the door.
"So scary..." Hikaru clutched onto his brother.
"What a nightmare," Kaoru trembled.
They looked into each other's eyes.
"Never again," they agreed.
There was a knock at the door and both of the twins jumped up on the kitchen table.
"W-who is it?" Hikaru asked meekly.
"It's just me you guys," Kijira called through the door.
The brothers breathed a sigh of relief. They got off the table and Kaoru answered the door.
"We were wondering about how you were, we heard from Haruhi that you got hurt last night," Hikaru explained. "We were worried."
Kijira shook her head, "I'm actually pretty good right now. But since there's a demon loose in my apartment, is it alright if I hang out here for a few hours?"
The twins looked at each other, then back at Kijira.
"Sure," they shrugged.
"But only if you make us some coffee," Kaoru gave a deft nod.
Kijira was about to shut the door when Tamaki and Haruhi rushed in sweating and panting.
"Kyoya?" Kijira offered.
Tamaki gulped some air and nodded, "we just went in to check on you and there was this monster in your apartment!"
"Coffee?" Hikaru started pulling out cups.
"Why not?" Tamaki gasped.
Kijira helped Kaoru finish the coffee while Hikaru and Haruhi pulled out five cups. After coffee was passed around they sat on the couches with the twins in one and Haruhi, Kijira, and Tamaki on the other with Tamaki in the middle.
Tamaki glanced around the room as they sipped their coffee. He watched Kijra bring the cup up to her lips. His eyes widened.
"Why is there a handprint here?" he grabbed up her wrist.
Tamaki examined the black and blue handprint that had formed on her wrist. She tried to shake him off, but she only winced at the pain.
"No reason..." she held face as her wrist was examined.
"Has Kyoya been doing something to you!" Tamaki demanded.
"I can't believe you would suggest that," Kijira said with shock in her expression.
"Hold on..." Kaoru set down his cup, "what exactly happened last night?"
Tamaki opened his mouth to respond but no sound came out.
"You never told us what had happened," Tamaki put his forehead in his hands, "we just knew you gotten hurt."
Haruhi bit her lip nervously. They HADN'T said what had happened. But they hadn't planned on it either. It would come out eventually.
"I just had a bit of a scrape-up and Mori found me while Haruhi was getting help."
Tamaki nodded.
Haruhi gave Kijira a look, but Kijira just eyed her and gave a small shake of the head.
After finally waking up, Kyoya glanced around the apartment. Kijira had obviously left, (he faintly remembered the twins being in the house) but he decided to find her before he decided on breakfast.
Kyoya called her phone but nobody answered.
Maybe she went to one of the other's house. He checked Haruhi's and Tamaki's apartments, but there was no one home.
I guess I'll stop by Mori-senpai's and Honey-senpai's, he thought.
He walked up the stairs and knocked on their door.
"Hullo?" Honey poked his head out the door, "Kyo-chan! Come in!"
"I just came to check if Kijira was here," Kyoya told him.
"Uh, no, Ki-chan is not here," Honey looked in the apartment, "but Takashi told me what happened to her."
"Really now," Kyoya leaned on the doorframe.
"All those guys," Honey shook his head, "I'm glad Takashi found her before something happened."
Kyoya froze, "all those guys?"
Honey frowned, "yeah, didn't Kijira tell you?"
No one had told him ANYTHING. To be honest, he hadn't ever asked about HOW she got hurt, but the fact that she was hurt had concerned him.
"Do you mind if I come in for a moment?" Kyoya's glasses flashed.
Honey's face split into a smile, "sure!"
Honey widened the door and Kyoya stepped in.
"So about what happened..."
[][][][][][]
Kijira waved bye to the twins and Tamaki and Haruhi followed her out the door. They chatted lightly until they found someone blocking their path.
"Kyoya-senpai," Haruhi tilted her head at her senior, "is there something wrong?"
"I need a word with Kijira for a moment," Kyoya stared her down.
"I'll catch up with you guys later," Kijira waved them off.
They nodded and went on. Once they were out of earshot, Kyoya turned to Kijira
"When did you plan on telling me five guys attacked you and Haruhi?" Kyoya asked carefully.
"Huh?"
"Honey-senpai told me how Mori had found you," Kyoya frowned.
Kijira stood still. Busted.
"They didn't do anything to me," Kijira waved her arm, "so it doesn't really matter does it?"
Kyoya caught her arm with the hand bruise on her wrist.
"Didn't do anything?" Kyoya examined her wrist.
Kijira gulped at the pain.
"One thing," she put up a finger, "and it really doesn't count."
"I believe it does," Kyoya let go of her wrist, "and I also believe my vote is the only one that counts in this matter."
"Don't press it any further," Kijira shook her head fiercely, "you won't gain anything from it. And if it's such a big issue, why are you being so calm?"
"Because I'm not going to press it any further," Kyoya said simply, "I just want to know why you lied to me."
"Now you're being unfair," Kijira pouted, "no one ever asked so I didn't tell."
"So if I go ask Tamaki right now he will tell me exactly what happened?"
They had a stare-down for a moment
"Okay, so I told Tamaki a half-truth," Kijira broke her gaze, "and since when have you been so cunning?"
Kyoya's eyes widened in mock surprise, "my dear, I have always been cunning, it just took you a long time to realize it."
"I suppose I'll tell Tamaki what happened," Kijira sighed.
"That," Kyoya's glasses flashed, "is a good idea."
"Don't talk to me like a I'm a child," Kijira crossed her arms.
"You chose to act like a child, so I'm only treating you like one," Kyoya directed her towards Tamaki's apartment.
"Thanks, I feel much better," she muttered.
[][][][][][]
"So that's what really happened?" Tamaki frowned.
Haruhi nodded, "we didn't want you to worry any more than you had."
Tamaki nodded, his eyes closed "thank you for the truth at least."
"It's lunchtime," Haruhi checked the time, "if you wait, we will make you lunch."
"Trying to suck up, eh? It won't work just so you know," Tamaki reclined on his couch.
Haruhi gave him a wierd look and the girls headed off for Haruhi's kitchen. Once they were out of the way, Tamaki went into mother hen mode.
"What are we going to do about those guys?" Tamaki fretted, "the girls won't want us to take action, but we can't just be with them everywhere."
"There's no need to worry," Kyoya's glasses shone, "I've already taken care of that certain problem."
"Do I want to know?" Tamaki asked nervously.
"Not if you want to appear innocent in a court of law."
[][][][][][]
Kijira walked into the bathroom and set her clothes and towel on the sink. She filled the tub with warm water and bath soap.
"Ah," Kijira sighed as she slipped into the warm water of the tub.
After making lunch and spending five hours doing things on the whim of Tamaki, Kijira was bushed. Kijira tied her hair up to keep it dry.
Kyoya walked into the bathroom with a towel over his shoulder.
"Hm? Sorry, I didn't know the bathroom was occupied," Kyoya noticed the items on the counter.
"It's fine," Kijira shrugged.
He turned to the bathtub. His glasses went reflective.
"I didn't know you were..." Kyoya didn't finish his sentence.
"How many times do I have to say 'it's fine'?" Kijira sighed.
Kyoya walked out quickly and shut the door.
"Mmmph!" Kijira smothered her laughter with bubbles.
She dried off and put on a t shirt and shorts.
"Are you okay?" Kijira walked into the bedroom and sat down, hiding her smile.
Kyoya was lounging on the bed reading a book.
"I'm perfectly fine," Kyoya's glasses were still reflective.
"You can walk around the house in a towel, but you are embarrassed to in walk on me in the bathroom?"
Kyoya set the book down, "no, I just think you prefer privacy."
"How sweet," Kijira leaned up and kissed him.
Kyoya set his glasses on the table and turned off the light. He slid an arm around her.
"If only I believed you," Kijira chuckled.
[][][][][][]
The next morning Kijira walked into the bedroom, dressed.
"Good morning," Kijira went and sat on Kyoya's side of the bed.
He didn't move.
"Come on sleepyhead," she rubbed his back, "it's time to get up." "What do you want?" the monster asked.
"It's time to wake up," Kijira leaned over him.
"Are you aware," Kyoya sat up in the bed, "that it is 7 AM in the morning? And I am REALLY not a morning person."
"Are you aware," Kijira said with a wicked grin, "that you show the most emotion in the morning than at any other time?"
Kyoya glared at her, "I have a few choice words for that statement."
A dark aura enveloped him. It wavered as Kijira caught him in a surprise kiss.
"Good morning Mr. Demon-kun," Kijira stood up, "your breakfast is waiting for you and if you get up in time, something else might be too."
Kyoya watched her walk out of the room. He debated on whether getting up at this time was worth it or not.
He slogged out of bed and decided if the breakfast was crappy then she would be repaying him very nicely later. VERY nicely.
[][][][][][]
"How was breakfast?" Kijira asked, washing the dishes.
"It was decent," Kyoya dabbed his mouth with a napkin, "but it left me hungry."
"Oh? Well if you're still hungry I can make some more-"
Kyoya snaked an arm around her waist.
"You know that's not what I meant," he whispered in her ear.
"Tell you what," Kijira continued washing dishes, "if you help me finish these last few, I will."
"You know it doesn't take much strength to overpower you," he purred.
"It doesn't take much to poison a young man," she replied nonchalantly.
"Out of all the business associates I know, you drive the hardest bargains," Kyoya kissed her cheek.
They worked on the dishes until all of them were done. Though there were a couple of wet handprints on Kijira's backside and a soaking wet Kyoya to show for their work.
"I believe," Kyoya stood over her, "it's time you held up your part of the bargain."
"Of course," she smiled mischievously, "but not in that wet shirt."
He unbuttoned it and tossed it aside. Kyoya wrapped his arms around her and their lips met.
"Yo Kyoya!"
Kyoya let go of her to listen to that annoying sound.
Must have been a bird or something, he thought.
"Kyoya-senpai do we have to break down the door?" a pair of voices asked.
"Kyo-chan! Ki-chan! Wake up sillys!"
Definitely a bird.
Kijira smiled, "do you want to ignore them?"
"Yes," Kyoya said instantly, "but knowing Tamaki he would probably pick the lock or something."
Kijira went to answer the door and found Tamaki on his knees with a hairpin in his hands.
"Aheheh," Tamaki laughed nervously.
"Told you," Kyoya's glasses reflected the light of the room.
"Did we interrupt something senpais?" Haruhi asked the two.
"Not anything too important," Kijira said casually.
"Well that's good," Tamaki got off the floor, "because we are going to the mall today!"
Kyoya's glasses flashed with irritation, the host club backed up nervously.
"You okay senpai?" Hikaru glanced around nervously.
Kyoya said nothing. He could feel his blood boiling. Kyoya looked from Kijira to the group outside the doorframe. He was at his limit.
"Hey Kyoya," Tamaki looked confused, "why are you all wet? And shirtless?"
He slammed the door in their faces.
"This is obviously a bad dream," Kyoya walked to the bedroom, "I'm going back to bed."
[][][][][][]
Kyoya glanced around the vast shopping center the group had entered.
"Tell me again WHY we are doing this?" Kyoya asked irritated.
"Becauseee," Tamaki waved his arm in a circle, "We've been to a Japanese commoner mall and now we need to go to an American one!"
Kijira glanced at Tamaki.
"Your boyfriend is crazy," Kijira whispered in Haruhi's ear.
"Tell me about it," muttered Haruhi.
"I wanna go buy some snacks!" Honey exclaimed.
"Us too!" the twins agreed.
"Well I'm going to look all over the place!" Tamaki declared.
"I'm going to take Kyoya to a coffee shop before he kills somebody," Kijira told Haruhi.
"I think I'll go with you guys," she sweatdropped at the massive amount of glittery excitement that was going on near her.
"Let's go before I change my mind about killing," Kyoya tightened the grip on his jacket.
[][][][][][]
The three found a small coffee shop near the food court. Kyoya was paying for his cup when Kijira accidentally bumped into him.
"Sorry," she told him.
"It's fine," he put a hand up, "what do you want?"
She placed her order and the two waited for Haruhi to buy her coffee. They took seats at an empty table.
"You two seem different," Haruhi observed.
"Different?" Kyoya looked at her, "how?"
"Well you are more polite to her," Haruhi took a swig of her coffee, "and you're sitting next to each other."
Kijira and Kyoya looked at each other. They were sitting next to each other.
"That doesn't mean anything," Kijira shrugged.
"Oh?" Haruhi raised her eyebrows," then why are you two holding hands under the table?"
The two looked down at their hands.
"Trust exercise," Kyoya shrugged.
"Uh huh," Haruhi drank her some more of her coffee, "when you two are done denying, tell me what's going on."
Kyouya, Kijira, and Haruhi walked through the mall glancing at the shops. Kyoya seemed to be gravitating towards Kijira, in Haruhi's point of view.
Kijira picked up a small piece of pottery in one of the shops and studied it. Kyoya was looking at it right over her shoulder as well.
Something's changed between them, Haruhi thought. Could it have been from that night she got hurt?
"Oh!" Haruhi exclaimed.
"What is it?" Kijira glanced at Haruhi.
"It's one of those photo booths," Haruhi pointed out, "you go inside and it and it takes a roll of pictures."
"Really now?" Kyoya glanced at the booth, "that would be interesting to try."
"If you want to, I can show you how to use it."
"Sure," Kijira smiled.
Haruhi and the two walked into the booth.
"You just put in some money in here," Haruhi put some change in the machine, "you close the curtain, and you wait for the flash."
They closed the curtain and the camera flashed four times. The three climbed out of the booth and pulled the two pairs of photos out of the side.
"That was interesting," Kyoya examined the photos.
Kijira looked over at Kyoya, "do you want to go again?"
"Why not?" Kyoya opened the curtain with a small smile.
The two climbed in the booth again.
"Care to join us Haruhi?" Kijira asked.
Haruhi shook her head, "I'll wait for you outside the booth."
Kyoya shut the curtian and Haruhi listened to the flashes. She watched as the pictures slid out of the machine.
The first was of the two smiling at the camera with Kyoya's arm around Kijira. The second had Kyoya kissing the top of her head while she had a laughing smile. The third had the two in an embrace with their lips locked together. And in the fourth they were in a soft, hug with their eyes closed.
Haruhi smiled at the pictures.
How out of charater for them. They really do love each other, she thought happily.
Haruhi heard the curtain rustle and she scrambled over to where she had been standing when the curtain had closed.
Kyoya stepped out and straightened his jacket. He pulled the photographs out of the slot and glanced at them. Kijira walked out of the booth and Kyoya showed her the pictures.
She gave him a small smile and pocketed her copy.
Kyoya pulled out his wallet and placed them inside.
"Ready to go?" Haruhi asked.
Kyoya nodded and the three walked away to look around at the rest of the mall.
Though much to his later dismay, the pictures didn't reach his wallet.
[][][][][][]
Tamaki and the rest of the club went searching around, wide eyed with excitement at all the shops.
"Ah, Tamaki, we found you."
Tamaki looked over his shoulder.
"Kyoya! Kijira! Haruhi! We missed you!" Tamaki waved at them.
"Hey," Haruhi smiled.
She was glad to see Tamaki again, even if he was acting like an idiot.
"Hey senpai," the twins came up to them, "where did you guys go?"
"Around," Kijira shrugged.
"What's that?" Tamaki pointed to the pictures peeking out of Haruhi's wallet.
Haruhi pulled it out and let Tamaki look at it.
"You took... Photos?" Tamaki looked up at her, tears forming, "without me?"
"I was just showing Kyoya-senpai and Kijira-senpai a photo booth," Haruhi shrugged.
"Will you show me the photo booth?" Tamaki asked with tears in his eyes.
"If you really want to," Haruhi sweatdropped.
Yay! Now I can take pictures with Haruhi, Tamaki thought gleefully.
"Show us too!" the twins exclaimed.
"I want to see it too!" Honey exclaimed.
"Yeah," Mori nodded.
"Okay..." Haruhi motioned for them to follow.
Kyoya checked his watch, "it's almost lunchtime, would you like to go get something to eat, Kijira?"
"Sure," she smiled, "why not?"
[][][][][][][][]
I should have known, Haruhi sighed, anything as simple as a photo booth would be a huge success with the host club.
Hikaru and Kaoru were looking at their pictures, when they noticed something on the ground.
"Huh?" Hikaru picked it up, "what's this?"
"It looks like a photo roll," Kaoru glanced at it, "like ours."
They took a closer look.
"Hey..." Hikaru's expression turned into a large grin, "check out the lovebirds."
"Who would be dopey enough to do that in a photo booth?" Kaoru laughed.
They took a closer look.
"No way..."
Their shock turned into evil grins.
"Who knew that guy had a soft side?"
"Who knew that girl gave him lip?"
"Hey you guys," Tamaki called, " what are you looking at?"
"Nothing!" they called, not taking their eyes off the picture.
"Let me see," Tamaki took the picture from them.
His jaw dropped to the floor. He couldn't believe his eyes.
"Who-who's in this photo?" Tamaki showed it Haruhi, his hand trembling.
She glanced at it, "Kyoya-senpai and Kijira-senpai... AH!"
She snatched the photo from them. No one was supposed to see that!
"So it was them," Kaoru grinned wickedly.
"Huh?" Honey came out of the booth with Mori, "whatcha got there Haru-chan?"
Nothing you need to see, she thought nervously.
"It's an incriminating photo," Hikaru grinned
"Of Kyoya-senpai," Kaoru grinned equally.
"Kyo-chan?" Honey tilted his head.
"And Kijira-san," Tamaki covered his mouth.
The twins grinned at each other.
"Time for an interrogation."
[][][][][][][]
Kyoya finished the last of his sandwich and watched Kijira eat the rest of her sandwich. He leaned back in his chair while observing her.
"Hello lovebirds."
The twins walked up and circled around their table, grinning from ear to ear.
"Lovebirds?" Kijira cocked her head.
"And you said your marriage was arranged, you sly dog you!" Tamaki ruffled Kyoya's hair.
"It was arranged," Kyoya fixed his hair, "what are you blabbering on about?"
"Your love for each other, Kyo-chan!" Honey jumped for joy.
"Our... love?" Kijira tilted her head the other direction.
Kyoya had to admit, she was a good actor.
"Quit playing dumb," Hikaru folded his arms.
"We have proof!" Kaoru slammed the picture down on the table.
Kyoya's eyes widened and his glasses went into reflective mode.
He felt inside his wallet. The glossy photo wasn't in it. Looks like he was the one who had been careless.
Kijira picked up the picture and examined it.
"You call this proof?" Kijira slid the thing away from her in disgust. "It doesn't even look like us."
"Don't try to deny it," Hikaru leaned closer to her, "we know it's you two."
"Now why don't you two just kiss and make up?" Kaoru grinned.
"Kissy, kissy smoochy, smoochy" the twins made puckering noises.
Kyoya fixed his glasses.
"Huh?" Hikaru got close up to Kyoya's face, "is somebody blushing?"
Kyoya willed his face not to color, but it didn't work.
Kaoru invaded Kyoya's space as well, "he is, he is. Who knew he had the ability to make blood rise to his cheeks?"
Kyoya stood up, now in defensive mode, "we're leaving."
He took Kijira's hand and pulled her away.
The twins grinned at the retreating couple.
"Our win," they high fived.
"You idiots!" Haruhi punched them on their heads, "their relationship seems really private. I can't believe you just waved it in front of their faces."
"What are you talking about?" Hikaru looked at her.
"If that demon found love, that gives us license to mock him for the rest of our lives," Kaoru explained. "Besides, they are the ones who took the picture."
"Hey Tama-chan," Honey looked down at the table, "where is the picture?"
"Huh?" Tamaki scoured the table for it, "it's gone."
The twins glanced at the entrance to the mall with hard expressions.
"That sneaky devil."
PRESENT
"Who actually grabbed up the picture?" Tamaki asked curiously.
"Kijira did," Kyoya looked out the window of the hotel room. "It came as a surprise to me when she gave it to me at the apartment."
FLASHBACK
"Here Kyoya."
"What's this?" He examined it.
"What do you think, fool? It's the picture," she kissed him. "You can throw it away if you want to."
She walked out of the room clutching her own.
"No, no. I think I'll keep it."
PRESENT
Tamaki laughed and shook his head, "she's something else, isn't she?"
"Yeah," Kyoya said, opening his black notebook to the very back where an old photo-booth picture was taped, "she is."
Ze end of part 2! (I have part of a part 3 but I don't think I'll publish it, considering it's not even a third done)
Hope you enjoyed!