Japanese Vacation

Chapter 25

Convincing a Gryffindor

Class had to be the calmest they'd had since they'd arrived at Ouran. That was Hermione's thoughts when the day finally ended.

Harry stood, stretching, still not quite used to being forced in one seat for so long. After all, he'd just gotten out of primary when he'd entered Hogwarts, and it still had breaks.

Haruhi began to pack her things as she looked around.

Looking up Hikaru walked over to Haruhi. "Hey we have to finished getting fitted for our tux's."

Haruhi sighed and nodded then looked to Draco. "Do you mind coming along? I just have to get fitted and then we can leave, I don't have to host today."

Draco nodded. "Sure. It's something to do at any rate."

Haruhi nodded as she lead the way to the music room.

"So, what now?" Harry asked as they headed for the door.

"I've got to go find Nekozawa-san. See what he has planned. You should go find Ohtori, unfortunately. After all, you can't get back without him."

Harry frowned. "Drop it, Hermione."

Hermione's lips pursed, but she said nothing. "I'll see you later," she said, sending him a wave as she went in search of Nekozawa.

Hikaru and Kaoru walked up, each slinging an arm over Harry's shoulders. "Come on, Kyouya-sempai should be in the music room soon."

Kaoru nodded. "Hey you should come to the ball we have coming up!" He smiled down at Harry.

Harry started to nod, but stopped when Kaoru brought the ball.

"I don't dance," he said, even though it hadn't gone over well with Kyouya. He shrugged, not at all apologetic as he slipped back out of the twins' arms.

Hikaru and Kaoru pouted "Aw but it'll be fun!"

"And we can teach you how to dance!"

Harry's eye twitched. "I've already said that me and fancy don't mix," Harry muttered, wondering why everyone was trying to get him to the ball. He'd only make a mess of it all.

He followed the pouting twins to the music room, ignoring them as they continued to try and get him to go to the dance.

The Hitachiin twins frowned. "But you're here to learn about our customs,"

"Right?"

They both gave Harry their best puppy eyes, ones that rivaled Tamaki's.

Draco just leaned against a wall, watching with no little amusement as the twins tried to coerce Harry into going to that dance.

Tamaki stood and stretched. "See that test wasn't so bad…." He shrugged as he grabbed his things and moved towards the door, waiting for the others.

Fred and George made their way over to Tamaki and handed him back his books. "Thanks for that," they said.

"It would have been torture,"

"Without it."

Tamaki smiled. "If you don't mind, the host club needs me."

Fred and George shrugged. "Just tell us when we have to be ready to leave."

Tamaki nodded and walked to the music room, Kyouya having already left and was just walking in to the Host Club.

Haruhi waved at Huni and Mori as she walked in moving to the changing rooms were she got into her silver and green tux. After stepping out she shifted a bit and tried fixing her tie.

She managed to fix her tie and examined herself in the mirror, seeing where the suit still needed to be sewn up. Suddenly she felt a sharp stab in her arm.

"Ow… damn that hurt… Kaoru, come on I want to get this done before it stabs me to death."

Kaoru looked over at Haruhi. "Just a second."

"Please Harry-neko!"

Harry blinked. They were right, unfortunately, but …

"I don't have anything to wear …" And didn't that sound downright girly? "I can't go, sorry."

Draco eyed Kyouya carefully when he entered, but said nothing. He raised an eyebrow in silent amusement, both at Haruhi's predicament, and at Harry's attempt to stay away from the dance.

The twins straightened, looking deep in thought before opening their mouths, only to be interrupted.

"I have something for you to wear," Kyouya spoke up looking from his clipboard to Harry.

Haruhi glared at Kaoru from across the room. "Now."

Finally, with a sigh, Kaoru walked over to Haruhi and had her stand on a stool, getting a sewing kit and getting to work on her suit.

Harry blinked a moment, before everything sunk in. "Damn it!" he exclaimed, not happy with the latest turn of events.

Draco snickered from where he stood. Hikaru couldn't help but laugh as Kyouya just smirked and walked over to look at how Haruhi's tux was coming along.

Harry crossed his arms, grumbling under his breath. He really didn't want to go to the ball, but it seemed like he had been roped into it anyway. And now he would have to learn to dance … and hope he didn't step on too many toes.

Haruhi yelped as she was stuck again, only to get a laugh from Kaoru. Hikaru went and changed into his red and gold suit to see if fit right.

Haruhi smiled across the room at Draco, wincing slightly as she wished this was over. Draco smiled back. Green and silver looked good on her.

Hikaru came out with a smile.

"Good job, Kaoru, this is perfect."

Harry blinked. "Wait, you're wearing that?" he asked, a little amused.

Hikaru looked confused as he did a spin. "What? Don't like it?"

Harry shook his head. "It's not that," he replied. "Red and gold are the Gryffindor colors."

Hikaru smiled. "Really?"

Harry nodded. "Yep. I'm one of them, actually."

Draco snorted. "A lion? You're the lion. He's the one every Gryffindor wants to be." The disgust in his voice was evident.

Hikaru and Kaoru looked at each other and smirked.

"Lion, eh? Guess we found a perfect nickname for you, ne Harry-neko?"

Harry's eye twitched at the nickname. "A lion is not a cat," he grumbled.

Hikaru and Kaoru pouted just as he finished the final touches on Haruhi's tux.

"Aw, but Harry-neko…"

Haruhi stepped down. "Actually, Potter-kun, they are both felines." She adjusted her tie, turning to the side to inspect her tux.

"Yes, but a cat and a lion have several differences, making them different animals. It's why they have different names."

Draco just snorted. Trust a Gryffindor to come up with something like that as their reasoning.

Haruhi laughed to herself as she turned to look at Harry. Then, with a shrug, she undid the tie and took off the tux jacket, putting both on a hanger before stepping back into the changing room.

The twins both shrugged as Hikaru got up onto the stool.

"Whatever you say, Harry-neko."

Harry resisted the strangest urge to stick his tongue out at them, moving to sit in a chair instead.

Silently, he went through his excuses, trying to find out exactly how he'd ended up going. Oh, yes, there it was … he scowled at the twins and Kyouya, making sure to wipe it from his features whenever one of them looked at him.

"So, when is the ball?" he asked, resigned to his fate.

Kyouya looked at his notebook. "In about two days."

The twins nodded as Haruhi stepped out of the changing room. "Are you coming too Malfoy-san?" Hikaru turned his head to the blond.

Harry felt his eyes bulge. Two days? They expected him to learn to dance in two days?

Draco shrugged. "I've got nothing else to do."

"Are you insane?!" Harry exclaimed. "Two days?! You can't really expect me to learn how to dance in two days."

The four all looked from Draco to Harry. Hikaru got down from the stool and stepped over to Harry, grabbing his hand and twirled him around once. "Don't worry Harry-neko, it's not hard."

"Yeah besides you have some of the best teachers ever,"

"Us."

Haruhi laughed a bit, hiding her mouth behind one hand.

Harry stumbled slightly from the sudden change from sitting, to standing, to spinning and glared at the twins. "Aren't I supposed to lead? Makes it kind of difficult when your taller than me."

Draco snorted. "That's perfect then, Potter, the girls dancing will all be taller than you."

Harry turned to glare at Draco. Harry's glare was not alone as the twins both gave him their own before Kaoru took Haruhi's hand and lead her over to Harry.

"We taught Haruhi so he can learn with her." Hikaru's eyes had a bit of a gleam in them as he looked at the stuck up blond.

Harry resisted the urge to say 'what, now?' after all, he had, just complained about only having two days to learn. He'd only done something like this once, and it wasn't exactly a waltz.

"So . . . what?" Harry asked, voice still resigned.

Haruhi took one of Harry's hands and placed it on her lower back before placing one hand on his shoulder and the other in his hand, lightly gripping it and raising it up a bit. "Now step forward gracefully with your left foot, I'll follow your lead by doing the opposite of what you do."

Hikaru smiled at Haruhi and Harry, though both twins wanted to be the ones to be teaching him.

Gracefully? If there was one thing Harry wasn't, it was graceful, but, he followed her instructions, and lifted his foot. He couldn't help but look down to make sure that he didn't step on her toes.

Haruhi stepped back before moving her hand to lift his chin. "It's easier if you look me in the eyes." She smiled and replaced her hand in his. " Now step forward and to the right with your right foot, almost like tracing an upside down 'L' with your foot." She looked at him. "And don't worry you won't step on my toes."

Harry raised an eyebrow, clearly not believing her, but did as she said, very tense, and kind of jerky as well.

As they finished the step she smiled at him. "See, that wasn't bad." With a nod she continued. "Now shift your weight to your right foot, keep your left foot stationary, finally slide your left foot over to your right and stand with your feet together."

Harry followed her instructions, still rather tense, but this step wasn't quite as jerky (there was only so much this step could be).

"Ok now step back with your right foot, step back and to the left with your left foot, this time tracing a backward L, then shift your weight to your left foot."

Kaoru looked over at Draco. "He's not doing too bad."

Draco just raised an eyebrow, the beginnings of a smirk forming as Harry tried the next step . . . and promptly tripped.

Haruhi helped Harry catch his balance. "It's ok; everyone messes up at least once. I'd have been surprised if you hadn't." She nodded a bit. "Finally, slide your right foot toward your left until your feet are together; now you just start over with your left foot from the beginning."

Harry did it, but still looked rather lost. "Er . . . what was first, again?"

Draco choked back a snort.

Haruhi nodded then explain it again before shooting Draco a stern look. "Now step forward with your left foot. Then step forward and to the right with your right foot, making an upside-down letter L in the air with your foot."

Draco did his best to look completely innocent, which didn't work too well.

Harry silently followed her instruction, still feeling like he was following more than leading, and made several aborted looks down.

"Your doing good." She smiled again, "Shift your weight to your right foot, keep your left foot in the same place, finally slide your left foot over to your right and stand with your feet together."

Harry did so, then, when he got to the last step, he grumbled.

"Next time, I'm just saying no. No arguments, no reasons, just no."

Haruhi laughed. "They'd drag you there without teaching you to dance." Again she instructed him in the next step. "You really are getting better though."

"I'd hide," Harry said. "And they wouldn't be able to find me."

But, he smiled at Haruhi a little, even though he doubted he was getting better.

Haruhi laughed. "Careful, Kyouya-sempai would find you." They continued until he finished. "Now can you remember the beginning?"

"I think so," Harry said, pausing for about half a second before stepping forward with his left foot. "And I doubt he would. Not with how I can hide."

Haruhi shrugged and let Harry lead.

After a few more times, Harry seemed to get the hang of it, though that was without music, and he was still rather tense. He smiled at Haruhi.

Haruhi laughed a bit. "Ok now lets see how you do with music, Kaoru?"

She turned her head to look at the other who was already turning on a radio to play the music.

"When ever your ready." She nodded at Harry, looking his square in the eye.

Harry cringed, visibly, but began, and was immediately offbeat.

Draco winced, and couldn't help but feel sorry for Harry.

Haruhi stopped them for a moment. "Count in your head, or if you want to out loud for now." She began to count as well, helping him.

Harry blinked. "Count? What count?"

No one ever said anything about a count.

Haruhi sighed as she continued to count the notes and then pulled a bit on Harry's shoulder to signal him to begin.

Harry did as she 'told' him to do, carefully following the count through.

"There you go. Now I'm going to stop counting, it's up to you to keep the beat."

Harry bit his lip as he lead her through once more. His lips moving in a silent count. About half way through, he lost it. "Sorry," he muttered.

"It's ok, just keep going, you can still count out loud if you need to." Her voice was soft and patient.

"Arigato," he said, before continuing, his head also bobbing slightly as he counted.

About half way through, he stopped for half a second before seeming to remember and stepped back.

Haruhi smiled and nodded.

Finally, Harry seemed to get the count and the steps, even if he was still a bit stiff and jerky.

Haruhi began to hum with the music slightly. "Now just relax."

Relax?

"I find it easier to relax when faced with a Dementer," he muttered, not really intending for her to hear it as he did his best to relax. Unfortunately, that wasn't very good.

Haruhi shook her head while the twins laughed a bit watching Harry and Haruhi dance.

Draco was overly amused by it all.

It was a while later that Harry pulled away from Haruhi. "Can we rest for a bit? I'm exhausted."

And, though he didn't know it, he gave a rather good puppy dog eyes. It was probably all that emerald.

Haruhi laughed and nodded. "No problem, I'll get some tea." She retreated to a backroom.

"Looking good so far, Harry-neko."

Harry just glowered before moving over to a chair and collapsing. "I haven't felt this tired since . . . The third task of the Triwizard Tournament," the last part was said fairly quietly, almost sadly.

The twins looked at each other then shrugged as Haruhi walked over with a tray of tea and cups.

After sitting down she poured each of them a cup and then herself, sitting across form Draco in a seat.

Draco took the cup with a nod. Harry sent her a tired smile as he took his, sighing pleasantly with the first sip.

"As much as it pains me to say it, Potter," Draco said. "You're a decent beginner."

Harry froze, his cup partway to his mouth, and stared at Draco. Then, he turned to the twin that was closest to him. "Did he just compliment me?" he asked.

Kaoru laughed and nodded, "I think so."

Haruhi laughed while Kyouya simply drank his tea.

Harry nodded once, turned back to Draco, and lifted himself from his seat to feel the blond's head.

"What the hell, Potter?" Draco demanded, jerking back.

Harry frowned, sitting back down. "No fever . . . I just hope this doesn't mean the world's going to end." He sighed.

The twins and Haruhi began to laugh watching the two.

Draco scowled. "Shut up, Potter."

Harry just shrugged, taking another sip of his tea, though his gaze did drift to Haruhi for a moment. The Draco Malfoy, Harry knew would never have complimented him, even under duress, perhaps Haruhi was good for him.

Haruhi blinked after a moment then looked at Draco. "If you want we could head home here soon."

"Aw, you're leaving Haruhi-chan?"

"Maybe… I need to cook before dad gets home from work, besides I have homework to do along with dishes."

Draco shrugged. "Whenever you want to," he said. Truth be told, he was enjoying watching Potter be uncomfortable. It was fun.

Harry could only sag in relief, that meant he wouldn't have to dance anymore today.

"If you don't mind Haruhi, I would rather you two praticed for a nother hour, then you may both leave." Kyouya said jotting down a few things.

The twins sighed as they sank in there own seats, tired already.

Harry let his head drop to the table with a groan.

Oh, yeah, if she didn't mind. Doesn't even ask me.

He didn't think he'd have to worry about nightmares tonight; he'd be too bloody tired to go into anything but deep sleep. Well, that was if Voldemort left him alone as well.

Haruhi looked at Harry and turned to Kyouya. "Sorry but like I said I have things to do. We can practice tomorrow though." Haruhi stood giving Draco a small look and then waved to Kyouya. "Ja."

Hikaru and Kaoru gave Kyouya a small glare. "Besides Harry-neko's tired."

"And he did good today."

Kyouya sighed. "Fine, then we should all be heading out."

Draco stood, giving a nod to everyone at the table, and followed Haruhi out. "You were good," he told her.

Haruhi smiled, "Thank you, I've been dancing since the twins taught me and we've had to do quite a few balls so I get to practice quite a bit."

Draco nodded.

Harry glanced up, giving the twins a grateful look. "Alright," he said, standing with a low groan.

The twins gave Harry a quick hug before walking off. "We have to get home anyways. See ya Harry-neko." The two winked and were gone.

Kyouya sighed shaking his head before walking out of the room and to the entrance.

Harry gave himself a mental pat on the back from not cringing back from the twins as he followed Kyouya to the entrance of the school.

"And how, exactly, do you have something I can wear?" Harry asked, as he moved up to beside the older, taller, teen. "We're not exactly the same height, ya know."

"We're going shopping." Kyouya said matter-o-factly walking up to the car that sat in front of the school and climbing in.

Harry blinked after him a moment before hurrying to catch up. "That's not 'having something I can wear.'" Harry told him.

"Well then I have the money to get you something that you can wear. Either way you will be going." Kyouya signaled the driver and soon they were off to the store to buy Harry's tux. "Unless you rather have the twins make yours."

"No," was Harry's immediate response. What he didn't get, though, was everyone's wish to buy everything for him. He had his own money, granted it wasn't as much as theirs, but it was a decent amount.

Kyouya nodded. "Oh and the only reason I'm going to pay, I know the owner of the store and can get the tux for much cheeper if I charge it to my account. You will owe me though."

Harry shrugged. "I'll just transfer it over from my vault in England, if it happens to be more than what I have on me." It was said with all the ease of someone who had money, and really didn't care.

Kyouya looked down at Harry then nodded, a small light bulb going off in his head.

Obviously we were wrong and he is not as poor as we all thought.

Harry turned to look out the window, wondering how long the tux shopping would take, then, briefly, wished he could just wear dress robes. That, however would stand out. And if there was something he didn't want to do, it was stand out.

Soon they arrived at the store and Kyouya stepped out of the car and walked into the building. The girl behind the counter squeeled and ran forward. "Oohtori-san! It's been so long how are you?"

"I'm fine,"

"How can I help you?"

"I need a tux made for him." Kyouya motioned to Harry. "I was thinking a bottle green with white lining."

"Alright," The girl looked at Harry and smiled. "Right this way so we can get your measurements.

Harry stifled a sigh, but followed the girl back. After all, it wasn't much different from letting Madam Malkim do the same thing . . . right? Surely it would only take a little longer.

Soon the girl had all of Harry's measurements and then talked to Kyouya. "We should have the tux done in about a day. Come by this time tomorrow, or have someone come and get it." She smiled to Kyouya who only nodded.

"Thank you."

Harry gave the girl a small smile, unknowingly coming off as shy.

"Thanks," he said.

The girl giggled a bit then went back to the counter and handed a man the measurements.

"Well then lets be off." Kyouya sighed and went out to the car.

Harry frowned after the girl, confused. Why had she giggled? He didn't think he'd done anything wrong. He shook his head slightly, and followed Kyouya back out.

Kyouya sat in the car. "Things should be interesting." He signaled to the driver and they were off once more.

Allanasha Ke Kiri - *Peeks out of a closet* … um … *looks at all the angry readers* … would if help if I said I was sorry? … Didn't think so … um … Well, things have been happening. Like … I … well … both of us were engaged for a bit … then things fell apart. Um … There was work for me, and school … Then she got a job … then I had a cruise … and well, life just got in the way I guess … Please don't blame Aku. The lateness of this is not her fault, really, it's not. And~~ she has something really cool to tell you all.

Aku: Hey guys~ Yeah don't blame Alla either, lots of stuff has been going on. Heh. Anyways yeah I have something really cool to tell you all. We now have a twitter! Ever have a question about the story that you rather us answer more promptly? Ever wanna give us ideas but don't want others to see it? Go ahead and add us the user name is AllaAku. So yeah, well ready, set...GO! Review time! ^_^