Author's Note: I am so sorry for not updating in a while! I was crazy busy this weekend with grad parties, and I was working Monday/Tuesday. I do have the next chapter of The Broken Hearts Club set to post tomorrow, it just needs editing.
I do not own OHSHC, but I really wish I did.
We've got Akito and Haruhi, Part 1 of the Garden Party, and a jealous Kyoya. Please, read, review, and enjoy!
Haruhi and an Ootori
Chapter 7
There was a very loud knocking sound coming from Haruhi's apartment door, and she had been ignoring it for a good ten minutes. Given that the Garden Party started in an hour and she hadn't answered or returned any phone calls from the Ootori residence, she had a good idea who was outside, set to breakdown her apartment door.
And then there was shouting in addition to the banging on her door.
Haruhi slammed the pot she had been cleaning into the sink, sending water and soap bubbles flying in the process. She ran one rubber-gloved hand through her hair before spinning around and heading towards her front door.
"Haruhi," the voice on the other side called. "You haven't answered any of my calls, and if you really do not want to attend the Garden Party with me, then you could have at least said so. I don't know what I've said to upset you, but if you could—"
Haruhi flung the door open, stopping Akito mid-sentence. She watched him take in her appearance, clearly startled to see the glamorous girl from the Ootoris' announcement ball and dinner the other night dressed in a pair of men's sweatpants and a button-down shirt, a bandana in her hair and rubber gloves going up to her elbows. Haruhi didn't realize that she also had soap bubbles in her wildly disarrayed hair.
"—If you could please give me a second chance," Akito finished. "What are you wearing?"
She slit her eyes and made to shut the door in his face, but Akito slid his foot in the door and pried it open with his shoulder. The movement forced Haruhi to stumble backwards in a hurry to avoid falling over. Still, she lost her balance and would have fallen had Akito not instinctively reached out and gripped her shoulders to steady her.
"Why are you angry with me?" he asked her once he was sure she was stable.
Haruhi brushed herself off nervously, her emotions agitated once again with Akito standing so close to her.
"And really, what are you wearing?" Akito added, taking in her appearance once more.
In a rush, Harhui stepped back from him, trying to put some distance between herself and the second eldest Ootori brother.
"I'm wearing what I always wear when I clean. And yes," she told him. "I clean my own apartment. I don't want a maid or any help, and I don't need it no matter how much the guys insist that I do."
Akito caught on to her last few words. "Is that why you're angry? Did one of the 'guys' say something to you? Do . . . do the hosts not want us to see each other?"
Haruhi was set to have a fit. She couldn't handle Akito right now, or ever possibly. She had been avoiding any sort of confrontation with him and the hosts for the past few days, and she was most decidedly not willing to change that pattern.
"The hosts aren't thrilled, but they wouldn't get in the way—"
"Really? Because I've received numerous phone calls from Suoh, the Hitachiins, both Morinozukas, and the elder Haninozuka regarding our relationship. Surprisingly Kyoya hasn't said anything to me since before our date night—"
If Akito noticed Haruhi tense up at his brother's name, he didn't acknowledge it.
"—if you don't want to go to the party with me because you're worried about their reaction, well, I thought you didn't care what other people thought—"
Haruhi cut him off. "I don't care what other people think. I do care about what my friends think, though, since they're my friends," Haruhi stressed. "And they're fine with us, but there's not going to be an us," Haruhi explained, her voice rising at the end.
"Why not?" Akito interrupted.
"Because you hate cross-dressers!" she screamed at him. Her eyes flew wide when she realized she had screamed at him. "I'm sorry, I didn't mean to yell," she whispered.
Akito, she realized, was analyzing her, his eyes scanning her, searching for something. "You won't date me because I hate cross-dressers," he said like he was trying out the sound of the words altogether in one sentence. Haruhi nodded. "Very well," Akito continued. "I will work to revise my opinion, and you can present an argument to change my mind." He smiled at her. "I hear you're an excellent debater."
"Akito-san," Haruhi addressed him. "I don't think that's a good idea."
"Please, Haruhi. Give it a chance. If you still hate me by the end of the Garden Party, then we never have to go out again. What do you say?"
Haruh deliberated. Nothing's going to happen with Kyoya, she told herself. And if Akito really is sorry . . . If he's really willing to keep an open mind . . . He is handsome . . .
"Okay," she whispered. "Just let me clean up?"
Akito nodded his head so vigorously that Haruhi started to laugh as she headed off to her room.
Wow, there are more cameras here than usual, Haruhi thought. She kept her eyes moving, trying to take in her surroundings. She let Akito guide her, his arm bent at the elbow with her hand placed just above the crook in his arm.
Haruhi did her best to block out the questions the reporters were shouting at the two of them, but some of them couldn't help but catch her attention.
"Are you two an item now?"
"Mr. Ootori, is there an engagement on the way?"
"Of all the women chasing you, why the lawyer?"
"What happened to you and the youngest Ootori? Miss Fujioka!"
Haruhi's head was spinning. Normally she handled the questions just fine—she had the paparazzi routine down pat. This time, however, she was not attending a high society event with an old high school friend, and the media had picked up on that fact.
The reminder that Kyoya normally accompanied her to the Garden Party was reinforced by the last reporter's question, and Haruhi wasn't sure whether she ought to be annoyed or not.
She chose to be annoyed, but she also chose to hide it. Instead, she smiled politely at the reporters as she and Akito walked through the gates to Korakuen Garden, the most beautiful garden in Japan.
Akito leaned down slightly and whispered in her ear. "You look gorgeous, by the way. Although, the rubber gloves were quite an accessory. Shame they didn't match your dress."
Haruhi stifled a laugh at the idea of her wearing her dish cleaning gloves to the event. She didn't realize the direction in which Akito was walking until it was too late. All of a sudden she was caught up in a massive hug between two identically dresses people.
"Haru-chan!" a small voice cried, and Haruhi was glomped by a third, shorter person.
"What the—!" was all Haruhi managed to get out before she was lifted unceremoniously into the air, a flash of golden blonde hair catching her eye. There were too many voices shouting incoherent sentences for Haruhi to be able to make out what anyone was saying.
"Alright, that's enough. You're causing a scene," instructed an ice cold voice.
Indeed, several of the well-dressed people surrounding the group was staring as the Suoh heir spun the petite brunette around in the air.
Haruhi was dropped to the ground, and she almost fell over backwards. However, a long pair of muscular arms caught her and set her properly on her feet. Turning her head, Haruhi smiled up at her tall, dark savior. "Thank you, Mori," she said.
He ruffled her hair in response.
The rest of the hosts were gathered around Haruhi, and each one had a ridiculous grin on their face. Well, all of them except Kyoya.
"Where have you been, Haruhi?" Kaoru asked, not without concern.
"Yeah, we must've called you twenty different times. Why didn't you answer your phone?" Hikaru inquired.
"Well," Akito put in. "It's good to know you weren't just avoiding my phone calls."
"Why would you avoid Akito-san's phone calls, Haruhi?" Tamaki asked. Then, more hysterically, "Did you not have fun on your date? I will not allow—"
"Oh, shut it, Tamaki. The date was fine. Akito-san just said something he didn't realize would upset me. We talked it through, though, and it's all okay now."
Honey looked up at them with big brown eyes, curious. "What did you say to Haru-chan?" he asked Akito, the slightest hint of his threatening voice showing through.
"Mitsukuni," Mori warned his cousin not to pry.
"I was unaware of Haruhi's father's life preferences, and made a few crass comments about cross-dressing," Akito answered Honey's question. "I apologized, and we have made a deal. Our relationship shall be contingent on the success or failure of this date."
Akito's eyes locked on Kyoya, who was using his glasses to shield his expression from view.
"I have to say, dear brother, I'm a little put out with you for not telling me. This whole situation could have been avoided."
The hosts tensed as they watched the Ootori brothers square off in preparation for a verbal battle.
"I never considered the information to be pertinent to your endeavors. I assumed Haruhi would tell you herself in time. It never occurred to me you might make any sort of derogatory statement during your time with Haruhi. Such a social gaffe is usually warned against in etiquette training, is it not?" Kyoya countered his older brother's subtle accusation.
"Haruhi, do you have a problem with a person expressing their opinion on the first date, no matter how uneducated a conclusion it might be?" Akito directedthe question to Haruhi, but his gaze never left Kyoya.
"I have a problem with them being unintelligent or arrogant, but if you really believe something, I think it's better your partner knows it right off," Haruhi said, straightforward as always. "But for the record, I'm still not all that happy with you."
"Noted," both Ootori brothers said in unison.
They looked at the each other, one in confusion, the other in fury.
"What have you done to upset Haruhi?" Akito wondered.
"Nothing," Kyoya answered quickly. "I'm just used to her being angry with me about something or other."
Haruhi glared at Kyoya, and Kyoya tapped his glasses back into place, eliciting an almost inaudible growl from Haruhi. Akito, however, caught the exchange and glanced between the two suspiciously.
Akito was sitting next to Haruhi at their table. Lunch had just been served. The other hosts were seated two tables away from the pair, and Akito and Haruhi were sitting with two married lawyers and a pair of businessmen Akito knew from university.
At one point Haruhi was deep in conversation with the married lawyers. Akito's eyes had wandered from the debating businessmen to Haruhi, who looked radiant in the silver-grey dress she wore.
She really was quite beautiful, Akito couldn't help but think. What may have started out as a gameplay with his younger brother had turned into something a bit more . . . interesting. Haruhi Fujioka, as it turned out, was more than a pretty face and more than a lawyer. She was loved by many of the well-to-do families in high society. Several business associates had approached Akito to inquire about his relationship with the young, up-and-coming lawyer, and of those more than half had agreed to a meeting with an Ootori Group representative because of her presence next to Akito.
As a future Ootori in-law, Haruhi provided a great deal of merit. It made sense to Akito that his father would want her to be part of the family. Akito could also see what drew Kyoya to her. She may have been a commoner when Kyoya met her, but she was tenacious and vibrant and brilliant. Akito was sure that Kyoya appreciated Haruhi more than he would ever let on. Perhaps he ought to step aside and let Kyoya have his chance.
Then again, Kyoya had had eight odd years to make a move.
A silent battle was playing in Akito's head as he watched Haruhi smile and chat with their table companions. He had never been on very good terms with his brothers; the competition had been too intense between the three Ootori brothers. It had died down after Yuuichi had declared his intention to remain in the medical field, leaving the business aspects to his brothers. And while Akito had never craved to be the heir the way Kyoya had, when he realized that his father had never even considered him because of his overly-social reputation . . .
Akito became aware of Haruhi calling his name.
"Yes, dear?" he answered automatically.
Haruhi gave him a funny little smile. "Dear?" she mused.
Akito let out a small laugh. "Sorry, my, uh, previous dates usually liked pet names. I'm sorry," he reiterated.
"It's fine, really," Haruhi assured him. "Actually, it's kind of nice. I never liked the nicknames the hosts gave me. But 'dear,' well, it's kind of sweet. It paints a nice picture," she finished. Akito loved the blush that spread across Haruhi's cheeks as she admitted the last bit.
"Well, then, dear," Akito emphasized, making Haruhi's eyes crinkle with laughter. "Would you care to dance?"
"I'd love to," Haruhi answered, her lips turning up at the ends and her eyes shining.
Akito couldn't help but smile back at her.
Kyoya watched as his brother bent down to whisper something in Haruhi's ear. He wanted to break something when he saw Haruhi shiver and smile enticingly up at his brother.
He had kissed her for god's sake!
They had been in her bed, kissing. She had almost driven him crazy that night. And what had she meant when she said they'd kissed before? Surely he'd remember that. But then, what about her reaction? She had shoved him away and asked if he was serious. Didn't she know how much he wanted her?
Kyoya had spent the past eight years chasing after her, waiting patiently for his friends' feelings to fade. Tamaki, thankfully, had never realized his feelings for her, and eventually they had disappeared. Kyoya was well aware that if Tamaki had tried, he could have easily won Haruhi's heart. The twins had never been serious luckily, and they had most determinedly become her best friends. Honey had never been interested in Haruhi in that way, but Mori, Kyoya was sure, had been.
After a while, the hosts had happily become Haruhi's best friends, but Kyoya had always wanted Haruhi to be his, just as he wanted to be hers. It had been nearly a decade, and his feelings for the small girl remained steady.
Kyoya was in love with Haruhi. He had been for ages, and Haruhi never seemed to notice that he was nicer to her than anyone else. What more did it take?
Haruhi, Kyoya knew, was a rarity. She was more adorable than any other girl without even trying. Unlike most of the girls that ran in high society's social circles Haruhi was brainy. She loved school and her career, and she would never give it up, not for anything. Kyoya could respect that; he felt the same way, after all.
Watching Akito and Haruhi dance, watching her lean against Akito's chest like that . . . he wanted to be sick. What was Haruhi doing with his brother? The whole thing contradicted several of Kyoya's preset goals for how his life was supposed to turn out.
He was twenty-five. He was supposed to be owner of the Ootori zaibatsu. Check. He was supposed to be engaged to one Haruhi Fujioka. Miserable failure.
Kyoya felt his stomach tighten and his hands clench into fists as Haruhi reached up on her tiptoes to kiss Akito's cheek. When Akito turned his head slightly to capture her lips with his, Kyoya couldn't keep watching.
Not two feet away was the heiress to a small but profitable banking company, no connection to the Ootori Group at all. A night with her would be completely harmless.
His feet carried him towards her and his mouth opened on its own volition.
"Hello. You are Miss Hanami, are you not?"
The dark haired girl smiled up at him, batting her eyelashes for good measure. "Yes, I am," she said, her breathy voice grating on Kyoya's nerves.
He persevered, despite his annoyance.
"Would you care to dance?"
Her brown eyes were similar to Haruhi's, but she would never be Haruhi. No one could replace Haruhi, but Kyoya could at least try distracting himself. One night was all Kyoya was looking for. A distraction from the fact that Akito was sure to be spending the night at Haruhi's apartment, a thought that filled Kyoya with a hot, molten rage and a deep, indescribable sadness all at once.
"With the great Kyoya Oootori-san? I wouldn't dream of saying no."
I am going to hell, Kyoya thought. But he pushed the thought away when he caught the sight of Haruhi burying her face into Akito's chest, her smile disappearing into the fabric of his jacket as Akito looked happily down at Haruhi.
Author's Note: I hope you guys enjoyed the chapter! The next one, which I am really looking forward to, will contain some very fluffy KyoyaxHaruhi and an upset Akito-because Akito's going to walk in on something. This juicy tidbit should fit into the next chapter the way I have it paced in my head.
Anyways, please review! Also, thanks to those who have reviewed (Keep it up!) and those who have followed/favorited the story. You guys are awesome!