Chapter Seventeen: Don't Go, Kiiro!
Kiiro was in her studio, lost in a state of flux, when the door opened. She expected to see a maid or butler standing there but, when she looked up, it was her older sister, Margot.
"Hello, Alona!" she gushed.
"Margot?" Kiiro questioned. "And my name's not Alona!" she corrected.
"Hey, I came all the way here to see you, be nice!"
"Fine, why are you here?" she faux smiled.
"Well..." she blushed. "Well, I just..."
"She what?" Kyouya asked, a small amount of envy tinting his voice.
"She refused the position of heiress..." Kiiro sighed, exhausted from Margot's visit.
The Harper family business had always been focused on relaxation. They managed and opened a large number of resorts, parks, theaters, and...well...anything else that could be considered relaxing, all around the world. Kiiro's father had inherited the business and made it into a powerful incorporate. But, due to his focus on the company, he traveled near nonstop. Normally, he would leave his family at home, but, in recent years, his family seemed to be scattered all over the world. He was a caring father through it all, and insisted that his children grew up as sincere individuals, but, because he had believed that his choice in heiress should remain traditional, he had always counted on Margot's being heiress. Kiiro had no problem with this as she had never wanted a life like that of her father's, Aneleigh and Margot, however, weren't too pleased.
So, when Margot had refused the position of heiress, the tensions between sisters had risen. Kiiro and Aneleigh had grown up three years apart from each other and were the closest siblings, Kiiro and Margot were never very close due to their vastly different styles of living, and Margot and Aneleigh weren't close at all due to the age difference and personalities. Margot was showy and arrogant. Aneleigh was brash, but sweet and extremely smart for her age.
"So what's your father's protocol for such an incident?" Kyouya asked, the next day before class.
"Well, he'll either choose Ane or myself." she rested her head on her desk, anxiety rampant in her bones.
"And will you accept?" Kyouya questioned, looking perhaps a bit concerned.
She glanced up at him, "No." she smiled. "The odds of him picking me over Ane are infinitesimal at best, she's got a near-genius I.Q. score, and wants the title to boot." she shrugged. "Besides, being heiress would mean my return to California. Father had groomed Margot for the position of heiress her whole life, and whoever he picked would need to start learning about it now to make up for lost time."
"So, if he did pick you," he pushed up his glasses, catching the glare of the lights, "You would have to leave Japan?"
"Yeah." she said absentmindedly, but when she saw his frown, she added, "But he won't pick me." she emphasized. "I wouldn't worry about it."
Kyouya was about to say something when Tamaki flitted over to them, "What's with all of these serious expressions, huh?" he asked. "Are you guys hiding something from me?" he leaned on Kyouya's desk.
Kiiro raised an eyebrow, "What made you come to that conclusion?"
"Mommy and Aunty are always off on their own talking," he pouted. "Daddy feels left out."
Kyouya pinched his hand, "Sleep talk while asleep, Tamaki." he sighed, aggravated.
"Ow! Ow! Ow! Let go!" Tamaki whined.
After classes, as Kiiro began to get ready for Club activities, she got a call, from her father.
"Oh, hi, Dad." she answered, catching Kyouya's attention.
"Hello, Kiiro. I know you're about to go to your club meeting but I think I might need you to come home." he said.
"Oh, um, okay?" she puzzled. "Anything important?"
"No, I just want to talk with you." he told her. "It's nothing bad, I promise."
She saw Kyouya watching her, "Sure, I'll be over soon. Goodbye." she clicked her phone shut.
"Something wrong?" he asked, waiting for her.
"No. I just need to get home." she passed him. "Tell Tamaki I won't be able to attend Club today."
He grabbed her sleeve, "Wait."
She turned to him, stomach fluttering, "Kyouya?"
"Kiiro." his voice was unusually soft. "Do you want to be heiress?"
"I told you." she smiled. "He wouldn't pick me."
His eyes hardened, "But if your father did?"
"He won't." she repeated adamantly.
"Kiiro, I'm asking you seriously." he frowned. "If your father wanted you to be heiress, would you accept?"
She hesitated, "No." she answered, suddenly very unsure. "I'm not going anywhere."
He sighed, "Alright. I'll see you tomorrow." he walked off without her.
She felt a stab of anger, 'What's his problem?' she thought as she left.
"Kiiro." her father greeted her with a smile as she entered the sitting room. "Have a seat, dear."
She looked around, "Where's Margot?" she inquired.
He rolled his eyes, "Off pouting, I assume. She told me she came here to escape me, and can't stand to be around me." he held his hand over his heart. "Then she said she was leaving to go back to Europe." he grinned. "So I had her account frozen. And told her that unruly children don't receive allowances."
She felt the chill in his words, 'AB Blood Types...', "So, um, what did you want to talk to me about?"
"Well, now that Margot's decided to turn down heiress, I was wondering..." he sat back, relaxed. "What you're thoughts were?"
She nodded, "Well, I believe you ought to pick Ane." she confessed. "She's much smarter than I was at her age, and she's got more business sense than I do." she smiled, feeling her burdenous anxiety leaving her. "I think she'll do well as the head of the company."
"Do you?" he placed a finger to his chin, "You know I've been looking over that website you run, with your paintings for sale. I think you've done well for yourself for your age." he grinned.
Her anxiety returned, settling in her stomach, "Th-thank you, Dad. But, can I ask, why is choosing an heiress so important right now? You're only forty-eight, do you plan on retiring any time soon?"
He exhaled slow, "The company's come a long way in my time." he began. "When I took over I was twenty-four and had only just married your mother. We weren't even international before you were born." he sighed. "The only way we were able to spread to Asia was with your uncle's help, his connections and footholds. And seventeen years isn't long enough to secure our place in the world. We're still so fragile. That's why I need someone who can be a strong leader, and I need them soon so they can learn beside me until the time I so choose to hand over everything to them."
"Well, Ane's always up to the challenge..." Kiiro trailed off, hoping he'd get the hint.
He smiled, "You've always been like that, Kiiro... So quick to praise others for qualities you share."
She faux smiled back, "Whatever do you mean, Dad? Ane's much more accomplished than me, she's head of her class."
"I know." was his only response. "I believe I'll hold a ball in one week, and I'll announce the heiress afterward."
The next day during club activities Kiiro still couldn't shake her bad feeling, even sitting beside Kyouya didn't do its usual trick of soothing her nerves, it only fried them more.
"So, my father's hosting a party next week, he told me to invite you and your father."
"We'll be there." he said simply.
A stretch of silence passed between them.
"Did you talk to your father about his choosing?" he asked.
"Yes." she sat back, acting relaxed. "He still hasn't decided yet."
"What if he picks you, Kiiro?"
"He won't."
"Did you tell him not to?"
"Not yet."
"And you'll have to go back to California if you're named heiress?" he looked to her, dissatisfaction clear.
"Can we just drop it?" she huffed.
"Kir-chan?"
She turned to Hani, who had big tears forming in his eyes, "Yes, Hani-senpai?"
"You're not moving, are you?"
"..." Mori stood beside him.
She straightened up, "No, I'm not." she smiled.
"You don't know that yet." Kyouya contested.
"No, I said-"
"You can't go, Kiiro-senpai..."
"...we can't go back to Tono planning everything." the Twins snarked, looking more upset than she thought they would.
"I'm not going anywhere." she frowned.
"You can't say for sure." Kyouya undermined her answer.
"Stop that!"
"We've gotten so used to having you here, Kiiro-senpai, it'd be so different without you." Haruhi knitted her brow.
"It won't be different because I'm staying." she said, focusing on Kyouya.
"You still haven't spoken to your father about that." he pointed out.
"Aunty, you can't leave us!" Tamaki joined in crowding her. "Our family is finally complete."
"Tamaki, I'm not leaving anybody-"
"You're not sure about that." Kyouya said to her.
"Kyouya, quit that!" she shouted, glad that there were no customers in the room, he was aggravating her to no end. "I'm not going anywhere!"
"You don't know that until your father chooses someone!" he countered, glare apparent.
The rest of the club was silent, in shock that they were yelling at each other.
"Kyouya, he's not going to choose me!" she stood. "How many times do I have to tell you?!"
"Why not you, Kiiro?" he stood in front of her. "You're-!" he stopped. "Why do you aim to please him so much?! To go so far as to sacrifice your own happiness!"
"And why do you care about my happiness?!" she returned, teeth gritting. "I don't understand why you're so upset over this, Kyouya!"
"You won't even tell him the truth!" he ignored her question. "My guess is you already tried to tell him you didn't want to be heiress and you couldn't go through with it!" he threw his hands up. "Well? Am I right?!"
She ground her teeth, "No..."
"Here, do it right now, and we can end this idiotic argument. You can even use my phone." he threw it to her.
"Fine!" she punched in her father's number, before stopping.
"What's wrong? Can't tell him?" he pushed.
"Shut up!" she felt tears start to sting her eyes. "Dammit! Why do you have to be so stupid?! I hate you!" she threw his phone back at him, before running out of the room.
"Kiiro!" the Twins, Haruhi and the seniors went after her, leaving only Kyouya and Tamaki behind.
When the door shut, Tamaki looked to Kyouya, his expression serious, "Aren't you going to go after her?"
Kyouya held his phone, staring down at the floor, "No." he said darkly.
Tamaki softened, "Kyouya...I don't know what's going on between you two, but don't let it tear you two apart. You can't let ten years go to waste because of one fight..."
Kyouya said nothing.
"She only said what she did out of anger..."
"Kiiro-senpai!" the Twins and Haruhi yelled as they caught up to her. "Kir-chan!" Hani and Mori stopped her from running away.
Kiiro tried to hide her face, and wiped at her tears with her shirt sleeves, "I'm sorry for that, guys. I didn't meant to..."
"Kiiro-senpai, I don't really know what happened, but you don't have to apologize." Haruhi told her.
"We wanna know what's going on, Kiiro-senpai." Kaoru bent to look at her.
"What did Kyouya-senpai mean when he said you were going back to California?" Hikaru bent to look at her.
She shied away from them, "It's just...my Dad's choosing an heiress...and if it's me then I'll have to go back to America."
"But, Kiiro-senpai, you can't leave..."
"You're our friend, now." they protested stubbornly.
"You only just got here, Kiiro-senpai..." Haruhi stated.
"I'm sorry, it's just..."
"Kyo-chan doesn't want you to leave, either, Kir-chan, that's why he was so mad." Hani explained sweetly.
"I know." she sighed. "Thank you for this, but, I think it would be best if I took a break from the Club for now..."
The Twins were about to protest but Haruhi stopped them and said, "I'll tell Tamaki-senpai, he'll understand."
"Thank you, Haruhi..." she broke out of the circle. "I'm sorry but I have to go..."
The door opened, Kyouya perked up, but when only the four Hosts returned, he returned his gaze to the floor.
"Tamaki-senpai, Kiiro-senpai said she's going to take a break from club activities." Haruhi told him.
Without a word, Kyouya left Music Room Three.
Tamaki sighed, unable to sway his stubborn friend.
"I hope they're able to make up." Haruhi slumped.
He nodded, "He's at his happiest when he's with her."
Kiiro got home and collapsed onto her bed, her chest alternated between hollow and tight. She relentlessly rubbed the tears out of her eyes.
"Jerk..." she cried, unable to think of anything else. "Why does he even care if I leave..."
"What's wrong, Alona?" a soft voice came from the door. Margot stood there, sympathetic. "Boy trouble?" she asked, inviting herself in and shutting the door.
Kiiro nodded.
"Was it that four-eyes brat?" her voice was edged with the anger only a sibling could know.
"We got into an argument, he doesn't want me to go back to California..." she said, exasperated.
She huffed, "Boys aren't worth crying over, you know. They're all the same, hotheaded jerks who only care about themselves."
Kiiro nodded a fresh round of tears rolled down her cheeks.
"Hey, hey, it's okay..." her sister pulled her into her arms. "If he's really important to you, he'll work things out with you. If not, then good riddance, okay?"
She nodded, taking comfort in her sister's words.
Her days filled with the same irritated thoughts running through her head, she couldn't get her mind off him, she drew him absentmindedly, she dreamt of him, nothing could shake it. She was a wreck, not even Noel could cheer her. Over the next week, Kiiro had barely slept or eaten, she felt sick and anxious all the time. Kyouya blatantly ignored her, which just made her more and more aggravated. And everyone else tried to get her to come back to the club daily, but she just didn't have the energy for it. She just couldn't wait for the day her father choose Aneleigh, so she could get over this petty feud.
Tamaki stopped her after class, attempting again to get her to resolve things with Kyouya, "Kiiro, I know you've got to be tired of this argument. And, even if you don't come back to the club, at least try and make up to each other."
"Talk to him about that, Tamaki." she said, frazzled. "He's the one who started this..."
"But, even if you two apologized, then things would get better..." he tried. "Just tell him you don't hate him..."
"I have nothing to apologize for." she said adamantly. "I'm sorry, Tamaki, I just can't..."
As she walked off, King began to formulate a plan.
The day of her father's party snuck up on her, and Aneleigh and her mother came in from America. Kiiro didn't even have the energy to welcome them.
"Kiiro? Can I come in?" her mother knocked on the door.
"Yeah."
The door opened and she crept in, "Margot told me about the fight you had with Kyouya."
She sighed.
"Kiiro, you know..." she began. "I used to be so worried about you..." she laid on the bed with her. "You were so shy, I didn't think you would be able to form actual relationships..." she held her hand. "But, you know...sometime when my back was turned you became such a happy girl. And I think Kyouya is to thank for that."
"Mom..."
"I know, but, friends like that only come along once every so often. One argument shouldn't be allowed to ruin them, just make up with him, please, for me?"
Kiiro nodded, not at all convinced she would.
About an hour before the party, she was told by her maid that she had visitors.
So she wasn't all surprised that the Host Club, bar Kyouya, stood outside her bedroom door a few moments later. They were dressed for the ball, Tamaki in an all white tuxedo, the Twins in matching grey and houndstooth, Hani in cream and Mori in charcoal. Haruhi, however, was dressed in a violet high-low dress, with hair extensions in to give her a hime cut.
Kiiro smiled weakly, "Oh, you're early."
"We're not that early, Kiiro-senpai!" Hikaru fussed.
"Yeah! Why aren't you dressed yet?!" Kaoru snapped.
They promptly produced a bag from nowhere, and pushed her into her adjoining bathroom, "Come on we don't have much time!"
"W-what are you doing?"
In mere minutes they applied her make up in light pinks and glossy whites. They drew her hair up into a bulky bun, letting her curls stick out here and there. Then, they gave her a dress.
"It's from our mother's new line." they explained.
It was simple, strapless, with a lacy cream bust. The rest of the dress was long and straight and the kind of soft pink only found in sunsets. Its single defining feature was the long black, oversized bow on her left side, its tails hung down to her knees from its spot at the edge of the bust.
She knew something was up, but she thanked them anyway.
About a hundred people crowded the Harper's First Ballroom, crystal chandeliers hung above giving off golden light, and outside the garden was in full view, the symphony her father hired filled the air with beautiful strings and woodwinds, and the marbled tile resounded a million heel clicks.
Kiiro danced with Hani, who told her that she had to always be true to herself. With Mori, who told her to do what made her happy.
She spotted Kyouya sitting on the sidelines while she danced with Hikaru.
"You know, all this cold shoulder business between you two is driving us crazy, Kiiro-senpai." he raised an eyebrow. "If you two are really close, you shouldn't fight like this. And if you want to stay friends you have to make an effort."
She looked up at the younger boy, surprised, "That was pretty mature for you, Hikaru."
"Siblings are pretty much the same way." he explained simply. "The best way to get through a fight is to tackle it hands on."
Kaoru cut in on his brother, "You know I'm pretty surprised you two are even fighting." he began. "I didn't think either of you were hot headed enough to get into an argument."
"I'm too stubborn to avoid feuds altogether."
Kaoru smiled, "Ya know stubborness isn't going to solve anything. Somebody needs to budge a least a little."
"You're brother said something similar."
"I know." he grinned.
She took the lead with Haruhi on the next dance.
"Kiiro-senpai, can I ask you something?"
"Yes."
"Are you really prepared to leave Japan behind?" she asked.
"No, I really don't think so..." she sighed heavily. "I came here to leave my hometown behind. There was nothing there for me, I just never fit in no matter how much I tried."
"Then how are you willing to go along with a plan that would take you out of here?" she inquired, earning only silence. "Everyone here, I don't think they want you to go, not even Kyouya-senpai."
"I know." she said quietly.
"And, I know it's easy to put others first, but, you ought to think about what you want and go for it. Don't let anything stop you." she said with a look of determination in her eyes.
Kiiro smirked, "Thank you, Haruhi." she kissed her forehead, receiving a blush and a trio of aggravated boys.
Toward the end of the dance, Tamaki took her hand, "Are you feeling any better, Kiiro?" he asked with a grin.
She smiled back, "What are you all up to, Tamaki? Dressing me up, making me dance?"
"Do you like it, I called it the 'Don't Go, Kiiro' plan!" he broke into his trademarked 'let's help' pose. "If we all let you see how much we don't want you to go, you'll have to stay."
She chuckled, "That's actually a rather simple plan coming from you."
"Well, it was sort of Haruhi's idea. I wanted Mori to dress as a ruffian and bully you so we'd swoop in to save you and you would realize you couldn't leave your heroes."
She laughed, "Wow you guys are so weird."
"So, you'll stay?"
"Well, I-"
"May I cut in?" Kyouya stood behind them.
Tamaki looked pleasantly surprised and gave him her hand without a second thought.
"Kyouya, what are you doing?" she asked, lightened mood spoiled.
"Well, you'll be leaving tomorrow, so I figured I ought to at least say goodbye." he snarked.
"Oh, how kind of you." she said bluntly.
They danced for a few minutes more until the piece ended, "Well, this is goodbye then..." he trailed off.
"Yeah, I guess it is."
"Maybe California will be more enjoyable the second time."
She felt tears prick her eyes again, she promptly turned on her heel and disappeared from the ballroom, choosing a quiet balcony to calm down on.
"Are you really going to just let her go like this?" Tamaki frowned at him.
"Yes."
"How can you be okay with that?"
"I'm not." he admitted. "But there's no reason for me to care."
"What do you mean "no reason", if you've been friends for ten years, then you have plenty of reason to care." he returned, "She won't be happy back in California, we all know that."
"She can take care of herself."
"Kyouya, tomorrow she could be halfway around the world, and you're not going to do anything to stop her." he argued. "And if you end on this bad note, you'll never see each other again. You'll be to angry with each other to talk, and you'll fade into each other's past just like that."
"...Tamaki, I-"
Haruhi spoke up from beside him, "We've been trying all week, Kyouya-senpai, and she won't listen to us. Please just forget this petty fight and go tell her you're sorry." she watched him.
"Go tell her to stay." Tamaki added.
He ran to where she was.
"Kiiro!"
Kiiro didn't even turn from her spot at the balcony's railing, Kyouya's voice only stung at her heart, she stiffened, "Kyouya, nothing you say will-"
She was cut off, he turned her around, looked into her eyes...
...and kissed her.
Her eyes went wide, she couldn't quite believe what was happening but, sometime before she calmed down, she kissed him back.
He pulled away, his hands in hers, "Stay." he said simply.
Still shocked from experiencing her first kiss (and by the fact that it was from Kyouya) , she only nodded, before burying her head in his chest, wanted to be as close to him as possible in that moment. For a few solid minutes they stood like that, with his arms around her. The last week sounded so silly now, their whole argument irrelevant. Her mind snapped back to all of the moments leading up to this, all of the blushing, the butterflies in her stomach, her strange heartbeats, her want to be around him.
"Kyouya." she blushed wildly, unable to hide it. "You kissed me..."
"Yes." he looked down at her, his smile returned. "I did."
"I think I like you." she said awkwardly.
He laughed aloud, "You're just now realizing it?" he asked a bit incredulously.
"Yes! What do you mean "just now"?!" her blush deepened and her heart pounded. "Does...does that mean you like me?"
He kissed her again, pinning her against the railing, "What am I going to do with you?" he sighed, "I like you, Kiiro."
"Kyouya, I don't want to go back to California." she whined, feeling much more lighthearted. "I need to go talk to my Dad."
"I know." he grinned. "A few more minutes." he kissed her again, deeper this time, licking her lips to ask for entry, which she granted. And so the next few minutes were spent pleasantly learning how to kiss each other.
"Dad, before the dance ends, I want to tell you," she began, feeling the anxiety flare in her stomach. "I can't do it."
Her father looked to her, surprise clear in his expression, "But, Kiiro, I was going to pick you."
Margot smiled, appearing from the crowd to lean on her sister's shoulders, "Dad, it's just too much responsibility."
Kiiro looked up at her tallest sister, "I think it's too soon, is all."
Margot gave her a confused look, "What?"
"Dad, even if I don't want to head it, I want to be involved in the company. But, for right now, I just want to enjoy what I have." she declared as she looked to where the club stood. The rowdiest part of the crowd. Where Kyouya stood watching her.
"Oh." he sighed. "I see."
Her heart soared high above her head around the time Kyouya asked her for the last dance. In the background, Haruhi had finally relented and agreed to dance with the absolutely overjoyed Tamaki while the Twins shrieked and Hani spun around in circles with Mori.
"S-so, what does this mean, Kyouya?" she asked timidly.
"Hm." he thought for a moment. "It means we visit each other outside school more, and we go wherever I want whenever I want."
She raised an eyebrow, "Still the ego."
He grinned, dipping her, whispering, "And I get to invade your bed a lot more."
"Kyouya!" she squeaked.
"Or vice versa, if you'd like." his eyes filled with that odd emotion she witnessed every few days.
After a little silence she spoke up, "O-okay, but I mean, is it a secret or not?" she tilted her head to where Haruhi and Tamaki awkwardly danced together. "What with that."
He nodded, "We'll keep it a secret, Kiiro, if you promise me something."
"Yeah?" she perked up.
"Don't ever try to leave me again." he presented his pinky.
She smiled, unable to hold it back, wrapping her pinky around his she replied, "I promise."
Later, with Aneleigh chosen as the new heiress, things became as if there was never any argument between Kiiro and Kyouya. In fact, as most of the other Hosts had noticed, it seemed as if they were closer than ever.