AUTHOR'S NOTE: Hey! Thanks to all my readers and reviewers, you guys rock! Just a quick note: after some delibiration, I decided to change a small part of the story. I won't say which part in case you're reading this story for the first time. ;) Being the amazing writer I am. . .I don't know whether it will be significant or not. :) I think it makes a little sense with a certain someone's character, so please go back and re-read. I didn't change the prologue, so you don't have to read that again. Umm. . .so. . .this is a pretty big chapter. If there's anything major wrong with it regarding any aspect at all, please let me know. I almost gave Haruhi and Kyoya middle names, but then I did a wikipedia search and found out that Japanese don't normally have middle names. :D So if I screwed anything else up, shoot me a review/PM. Thanks so much!
KYOYA POV
The Host Club smiled welcomingly as the girls stormed the club, but on the inside they were frightened for their lives. No matter how many times this happened, they never seemed to get used to the onslaught of the opposite sex.
Girls, Kyoya thought disdainfully as he coolly organized the young ladies and sent them to their correct area. He kept Haruhi next to him the entire time. Stand by Haruhi so she knows I will always be there for her – check. Everything he did for the next month would be geared toward making Haruhi comfortable and willing around him.
"Haruhi, you're so cute!" several girls exclaimed.
"What a creative theme!" said one of Tamaki's clients. "Will there be a ceremony?" Kyoya tuned out all other conversations to hear this one.
Tamaki immediately swooped on her and pulled out a rose. "But, of course," said Tamaki softly as he brought her into his arms. "That is, if you want there to be," he added. Kyoya rolled his eyes at his friend's method of Hosting.
The girl giggled and blushed. "Oh, Tamaki," she said breathlessly. "I want a ceremony, yes." She took a few deep breaths before asking, "Who will Haruhi be marrying?"
Kyoya decided to interrupt with a cool smirk. He took Haruhi and their customers to Tamaki. "I have that pleasure," he said. His clientele gasped.
"Oh, I'm so jealous of Haruhi-kun," they all said.
"What a lucky boy," said a surprising number of Tamaki's customers.
Tamaki's eyes widened as Kyoya smiled at them all. "Perhaps we'll have another wedding theme in the future, and you can all compete to marry a Host." He held up a sign-up sheet. "If I get enough ladies interested, I'll make it happen." Throw in some business – check.
Every young lady, apart from Haruhi, ran to the list. Haruhi raised her eyebrows. "Wow, Kyoya, that was well-played."
Kyoya gave a small laugh. Impress Haruhi – unexpected but most welcome. "Why, thank you, Haruhi."
"What sort of benefits would the winning lady get besides marrying a Host?" Haruhi asked. "Better be clear on that; they might go crazy with the idea like Renge-chan."
Kyoya motioned her closer to keep the ladies from hearing. Moving into uncharted territory. Confidence level is high. "Not sure of the finer details yet, but nothing outrageous. Perhaps the winner would get to spend the rest of the day with the Host of choice."
Haruhi nodded. "They'll love that. Not sure I will, though." She paused to think. "What if you had eight winners, one for each Host? More chances to win, and I'm sure the ladies would prefer those stakes than those of just one winner."
Kyoya leaned away from Haruhi to address the guests, although he didn't want to interrupt his and Haruhi's conversation. She had some good ideas, it seemed. It was a dually advantageous conversation. "Ladies, the ceremony will begin in 15 minutes, so please enjoy tea, cakes, and conversations until then." He put an arm around Haruhi's shoulders and led her and their guests to Haruhi's normal area. "It sounds like you have some good ideas, Haruhi."
Haruhi shrugged as she took a seat on the couch. A small blush graced her cheeks. Perhaps at my touch, or maybe even my compliment? "Not that special. I'm sure you would've come up with it soon."
"Ah, but whether it would've been soon enough is the question." Kyoya took a seat next to her. "Would you mind coming to my house after hosting today? I would greatly appreciate having someone to bounce ideas off of." Uncharted territory is proving to be a great place. So many possibilities to get me and Haruhi alone together!
Haruhi looked slightly taken aback. "Are you sure, Kyoya-sen . . . Kyoya?"
Kyoya smiled. "Think about it while we take care of our Hosting duties."
"Haruhi, you look so handsome in that gown!" commented one of Haruhi's regulars. "Where did you get it?"
"Hikaru and Kaoru's mother made it for me," said Haruhi. She shrugged. "It'd probably look better on you. I don't really look like a girl."
Her customers were immediately taken with her. "No, it looks perfect on you!" "You are a lovely girl!"
Kyoya smiled again, and for once he didn't have anything to gain from it. She really is a natural.
"Umm . . . Kyoya?" A shy girl interrupted his thoughts.
"Yes?" he answered, slightly annoyed that she was interrupting his thoughts but didn't dare to show it. "Do you have a question, my dear?" I hate that honorific, my dear. I will never refer to Haruhi as such.
"Well, actually . . ." she drifted off and bit her lip. She must've been Mori's customer first. "I-I wanted to give you this." She held out a red rose.
Kyoya's eyes widened slightly behind his glasses. No girl had ever been so bold as to give him a rose, although a few had come close. He glanced around, wondering where the twins were and if they were behind this, but they were demonstrating some brotherly love. "Thank you very much, Hoshiko-chan. I greatly appreciate it," he said, albeit a little stiffly. His mind drifted briefly to what Haruhi was thinking about this situation.
"I-I was going to give it to Mori," continued the girl nervously, "but I wanted you to have something to give to Haruhi after you got married." She blushed.
Kyoya took the rose with a smile. "That was very thoughtful. Thank you very much, Hoshiko-chan."
Hoshiko nodded. "It wasn't my idea. Mori suggested it. You should thank him."
"I'll remember to thank him, but thank you for letting me know."
"I-I'm going to go back to Mori now," said Hoshiko, her shyness coming back.
"Of course. Have a nice day, Hoshiko-chan."
She smiled as she walked away. "Oh, and Mori says good luck at the wedding!" she called back.
Kyoya smiled and waved. Does Mori know what is going on? Or is he just rooting for me by chance? And what of Huni?
"That was very nice of Mori-senpai," Haruhi commented with a smile before turning back to her customers. "So, are you ladies looking forward to the ceremony? It's going to be an American-style wedding."
TAMAKI POV
"The wedding of Ohtori Kyoya and Fujioka Haruhi is about to begin! Please, everyone, take your seats!" announced Hikaru. Tamaki noticed his grandness and was grimly happy with his selection for master of ceremonies.
The loud chatter of the Host Club's guests reduced itself to an excited murmur. "This ceremony's going to be beautiful!" "Kyoya and Haruhi will make such a cute couple!"
"Does anyone care that they're both boys?" Tamaki asked in a high-pitch whisper from the back. Even Tamaki would admit that it was a weak opposition, but he had to do something. Mother and daughter were about to be married! He couldn't sit back and let it happen.
"No!" the girls chorused. Tamaki's face fell.
"It's just cosplay," said one young lady. "Haruhi even has a wig to make him look like a girl, so it's okay."
Tamaki retreated to the front of the room, twitching. He slid next to Kyoya, forgetting that he had to process down the aisle with Kaoru. "Stupid Mother, stupid daughter—"
"Were you saying something, Daddy?" Kyoya asked. Everything Kyoya did seemed to mock him. Tamaki couldn't help thinking about it as Kyoya turned to him with a smirk. "You know, I was hoping you would be my best man at my real wedding to Haruhi in the future, but perhaps I'll ask someone else."
Tamaki was cherry red, but he restrained himself from lashing out. "I'm sorry you feel that way, Mommy," he said through his teeth. "I would have loved to be your best man."
"I think Mori would make an excellent best man, don't you think?" Kyoya continued as if Tamaki hadn't said anything. "You know, he gave me this rose to give to Haruhi after the wedding." He twirled it in his fingers before setting it on the table that was serving as an altar.
"Good for him," said Tamaki, again through clenched teeth. "Although you could've gotten your own damn rose," he added under his breath.
Kyoya raised his eyebrows. "My, my, that's not the sort of talk a gentleman should use around ladies. You need to control yourself, Daddy."
"Boss!" called Kaoru from the back. "We're almost ready to start. Get back here!"
"Of course, Kyoya, how foolish of me." Tamaki's face returned to its normal ivory tone, and he walked up the aisle, stopping once or twice to greet a young lady who called out to him. "Shall we begin?" he asked as he reached the rest of the club.
Kaoru signaled to the organist they borrowed from the music club, and he immediately began playing. Tamaki held an arm out to Kaoru, who put his left arm in Tamaki's right. The two made their way down the aisle, several young ladies swooning as they made their journey. "The next wedding should be Tamaki and Hikaru," one girl whispered excitedly.
"That's Kaoru," her friend reprimanded, "but you're right, they would make a cute couple."
Mori and Huni followed next. Several awes accompanied them down the aisle as Huni dropped rose petals in as cute a manner as he could muster. Finally, it was Haruhi's turn.
KYOYA POV
All the girls squealed when Haruhi appeared at the back of the "church" and the wedding march began playing. She smiled her signature "natural" smile and made her way down the aisle to Kyoya.
Kyoya was grinning almost as much as he would at the real wedding. Haruhi definitely wouldn't be wearing that showy dress, but her hair and make-up were perfect. He couldn't ask for anything more from a bride. His breath caught at her beauty.
Careful, Kyoya, he reprimanded himself. You've spent your entire life guarding your heart; don't give it away because one girl makes your knees a little weak. You'll only get hurt. He continued to smile benevolently despite the turmoil of thoughts going through his head.
Kyoya held out his hand to Haruhi when she reached him, and she took it with a nervous smile. He escorted her the rest of the way to Hikaru, and several young ladies swooned at his chivalry.
"Ready for the show?" Haruhi whispered.
"It's not a show, Haruhi," Kyoya said quietly. "Think of it as a wedding; otherwise, we won't be as convincing." He couldn't resist giving her hand a small squeeze as Hikaru began talking. I'm not following the plan at all, but sometimes plans need to be altered.
"Dearly beloved, we are gathered here today to witness the union of Ohtori Kyoya and Fujioka Haruhi . . ," Hikaru said pompously. Kyoya tuned him out and retreated to his thoughts.
Now I need to prove my sincerity through my vows, thought Kyoya. With the way things have gone today, the plan may even be ahead of schedule. All the talking we've done, and our little 'date' after Hosting is over. . . There's just one thing that I didn't even consider as a factor in the plan: my own heart.
"Are there any objections to this holy union?" asked Hikaru.
Customers fervently shake their heads – check.
Tamaki doesn't have the guts to object – check. Some things will still follow the plan, of course.
"Very good. Now, for the vows. Repeat after me, Kyoya-kun," said Hikaru, not hiding his distaste for Kyoya. Kyoya gave him his signature glare (shielded from the guests). "Senpai," he hastily corrected. "I, Ohtori Kyoya. . ."
"I, Ohtori Kyoya," said Kyoya sincerely, taking Haruhi's hands in his.
"Take thee, Fujioka Haruhi," continued Hikaru.
"Take thee, Fujioka Haruhi," repeated Kyoya. She was looking down shyly, so he put a finger under her chin. "As my lawfully wedded wife," he continued, having already memorized the vows and therefore not needing Hikaru. He took her hand again and kept going.
"To have and to hold, to love and to cherish, in good times and in bad, in sickness and in health, until death do us part," he said slowly. He gulped, suddenly feeling nervous for no reason at all.
HARUHI POV
Hikaru nodded. "Now, Haruhi, repeat after me."
Haruhi cleared her throat. "I memorized it, too, Hikaru."
"Very well," said Hikaru. He gestured his hand agitatedly. "Go on."
"I, Fujioka Haruhi, take thee, Ohtori Kyoya, as my lawfully wedded husband." For some reason, she was too nervous to look Kyoya in the eyes. She spoke to his nose instead. "To have and to hold, to love and to cherish." She snuck a peek and saw Kyoya smiling encouragingly. "In good times and in bad, in sickness and in health." She finally got the courage to look him in the eyes. "Until death do us part," she finished with a slight blush. Why am I so nervous? I hate weddings; I should be completely emotionless. What is happening to me?
KYOYA POV
They continued looking at each other, and Kyoya didn't dare break this fragile connection. No, it wasn't because her eyes were startling captivating; it was because this could be vital to the plan later. Well, that's what he told himself. Whispers of forbidden love floated around the makeshift chapel. Hikaru got annoyed, so he cleared his throat and interrupted them. "Mori-senpai, the rings, please."
Mori handed the rings to Hikaru and returned back to his place. Hikaru, in turn, handed one to Haruhi and one to Kyoya. I would wager that Haruhi's wondering how much these rings cost.
"Now, Kyoya-senpai, put the ring on her finger, and as you do so say, 'With this ring, I thee wed.'" Hikaru was looking more sour with every passing minute of the ceremony.
Kyoya held Haruhi's left hand and slipped the ring halfway on her finger. "With this ring, I thee wed." He slid the ring the rest of the way as Haruhi blushed.
She looked to Hikaru, who nodded curtly. Haruhi gulped and slid the ring halfway like Kyoya did. "With this ring, I thee wed." She put the ring on and blushed even more at the thought of the next part. The audience leaned forward excitedly.
"I now pronounce you husband and wife. I present to you Mr. and Mrs. Ohtori Kyoya," said Hikaru, who intentionally left out the part everyone was waiting for.
"What?" was the chorus of the audience. There was no applause. Kyoya cleared his throat menacingly, Hikaru relented.
"Fine, you can kiss the bride!" said a very agitated Hikaru.
Kyoya put a hand under Haruhi's chin again and lifted her head to his. He bent forward and pressed their lips together as the crowd gasped and applauded. This is the way to begin and end the day, he thought. He turned to smirk at Tamaki. Phase 3 – com-THUMP!
The ladies gasped again as Kyoya fell to the ground, unconscious.