Title: Lost Art

Character(s): Kaoru, Kyouya

Pairing(s): A hint of something going on

Rating: G

Disclaimer: Ouran High School Host Club belongs to Hatori Bisco and related companies.

Word count: 827

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LOST ART

The last of the tea saucers is stacked with the rest of the used tableware atop the push trolley that the servants will wheel out to wash later.

The host club president glances around the empty clubroom and sighs, rolling his left shoulder in an attempt to ease the knot in it. Tomorrow morning, he'll have to come in early to put away the washed tableware in the club storeroom and do a stock take of their food supplies. If he remembers right, they are running low on Darjeeling and sugar cubes. Perhaps it might be better to replenish the supplies when club resumes after the break for exams?

Using his knee, he shoves the sofas back into place, picking up random bits of rubbish on the floor as he goes. He peers at the paper scraps to make sure that they aren't important before chucking them in a small plastic bag – one of the notes turns out to be a love confession to a customer of the club, and Kaoru grins to himself before firmly discarding the nefarious thoughts that had crossed his mind.

President now – have reputation to upkeep. Reflection on the club, et cetera.

Whipping out his cell, he rings the customer and makes discreet mention of the note. She asks him if he might retain it and hand it to her the next day – it's only a fragment of lined paper, so clearly she must like this boy. Kaoru agrees easily and files it inside his art diary (a gift from his beloved twin for him to keep the necessary records "without becoming the next Shadow King").

Right. He scans the room once more – all property of the club has been returned to their proper place and the servants are free to come in and do the rest of the cleanup.

With a yawn, Kaoru flicks the lights off and heads to the adjoining bathroom to wash his hands with soap before rifling through the wardrobe to collect his blazer and steal a pair of gloves for his personal use. Picking up his bag, he retrieves the keys and locks up all the side doors.

In the main room, the last rays of evening light are spilling in before the sun dips into the horizon. Kaoru pauses and takes a deep breath, gazing out of the window wistfully. The school grounds can be so lovely and lonely at the same time. Depending on his mood, the stillness may be tranquil or desolate – sometimes, Kaoru perches on the window ledge and daydreams for a while longer before going home.

Not today, he can't.

The weather is freezing and he has to revise for his upcoming finals. If he is going off to art college as planned, then this year – his last year of high school – will also be the last of his academic studies. He has a secret desire to do his best, to push his rankings to the highest it can go as a way of proving his worth to himself – will he get everything that he sets his mind on?

The clink of his keys hitting the bottom of his bag brings him back to the present – he's forgotten his art diary. Blowing his fringe in frustration, he unlocks the clubroom again and goes to the table where he'd left it –

It's not there.

Mildly panicked, Kaoru circles the table and sticks his head under it. Where could it be? It is the single most important item in his possession, as Kyouya-senpai's notebook was his. There's a world of sensitive information contained within its pages; the consequences of losing it doesn't bear thinking about.

It should have been there – it has to be! He distinctly –

Laughter begins to bubble up from the back of his throat.

… Could it be?

Into the dim silence, he says, "Welcome home, Kyouya-senpai."

It is met by an answering chuckle.

"Surprise spot check," a cultured voice announces amusedly.

"Lurking in shady corners like that, you can scare people to death."

The darkness melts away, revealing the outline of the ex-vice president with an art diary dangling from his fingers. "You've always enjoyed stories about the school being haunted."

"Believe me, I only cared about the safety of that diary," Kaoru replies dryly.

"Yes," Kyouya-senpai hums, relinquishing it to its rightful owner, "the sources of power invariably become a burden."

"What are you doing back in Japan?" Without a moment's delay, Kaoru stows it in his bag.

"For the weekend," Kyouya-senpai says casually. "I had imagined that there might be people in the country who might have wished to celebrate my birthday with me."

Kaoru feels a slow, warm smile spread across his face. "I'm sure I can arrange something."

"I should hope so. Will it be what I want?"

"If you make it clear what you want, you will get it."

"I see. And have I made myself clear?"

"Crystal," Kaoru whispers back, rich as velvet.

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12/04/2012