Chapter Two
Tamaki jumped out of his limo and stepped inside his house's gigantic doors. He walked past the receiving area situated on his right, noticing long legs crossed, lounging on the Parisian sofa. With a short glance, he thought of inspecting the area more intently. Tamaki paused at the corner of the room's entrance, loosening up his tie of navy blue, and still trying to figure who the man reading the paper was.
"Where from?" pushing his glasses to the bridge of his nose and lowering the paper he had finished reading—breaking the silence Tamaki brought upon arriving. It startled the blond boy who was trying to keep his cool while "spying" on the unannounced guest. Tamaki actually thought his stare was light and his own tall shadow was invisible for he was surprised with the sudden conversation…understandably, Kyouya once again proved his best friend was a hopeless idiot. He glared back with a cold look of ridicule.
"Kyouyaaaaa!" Tamaki was as giddy as ever rushing to hug his friend who signaled him to stop before he could make contact by sipping his afternoon tea. "I was worried you called me a lot this morning! Hey, what are you doing in my house?! Oh no, I knew it! You got kicked out of your house didn't you! That's why you called me because you couldn't take sleeping on the streets for another night! How mean of me for not answering your calls while you were out there in the cold—" He was blabbering dramatically with tearful eyes.
Kyouya almost choked on his hot tea. Reflex told him to whack Tamaki on the head with the newspaper to keep him from screaming more of his telltale. He sighed, "And I thought your spying was stupid, but your delusions get you gravely detached from sanity—if it's still possible on your level." Kyouya stood up, cleared his throat and fixed his clothes keeping his poise before Tamaki's array of maids and butlers start to eavesdrop on them. He folded his two-buttoned notch lapel blazer and suspended it again on his right forearm where his sleeves were cuffed in a thirds length.
"Aww! How could you! It's just so unlikely for you to be here for nothing at all. But what brings you here?" Tamaki asked through pouted lips while scratching the top of his head.
"It was the twins' idea. Incidentally, your house is along the way home as well." Kyouya spoke with such integrity that could deny that it was really his personal motive to visit. Indeed, the twins' ideas of fun make such good foundation of his white lies. "Speaking of which, everyone should be here in a second". The two boys took a glance at the big doors when they heard a car engine buzzing before halt.
It was no other than the chairman, Yuzuru Suoh, who the body guard has opened the car door to. He instantly saw his Son and the dark haired young man looking from the entrance as though expecting him. He walked up the mansion while the two boys met him half way to greet.
"Dad! I didn't expect you to be here",
"Same goes to you. I thought you were to leave your father here in Japan", the doting father gave a snappy comeback before turning to face his son's friend. "Kyouya, my dear boy! It's nice to see you coming by here. I wasn't able to see you last night at the ball because I had a very important meeting."
"Don't worry about it sir. I'm sure you've got some important matters that you've gone through exquisitely. The Ouran Fair was success itself."
"I'm very happy you kids have enjoyed the entirety of the event. I myself, as a parent, had a great time being accommodated by the students' stunning performances." Yuzuru commented fondly on Kyouya and shifted back his glance to his own son—who was just staring back and forth on them, seeming lost between the rallies of words.
"As for you, my unruly son…you were about to leave the country without even telling your old man first? What a shame. Before, I remember it crystal clear, that you'd cry so badly when we separate because of my business trips. You cry so bad that you even peed on me the last time", once again, it was Yuzuru's fun time to bully his Tamaki. He even made sure his son's best friend was there to hear him say it with a serious tone. Decisive must his looks be, everyone in the room would still notice the smirk he has on the corner of his eye—making everyone, except his own son, think exactly what was on his mind. That idiot's face when he's embarrassed is much more un intelligibly humorous than anything else!
"No I did not you liar! Stop pointing your finger on me! Why do you make up stories in front of my friends and saying it so sternly! But even so, it's obvious that it's all mockery! Well whatever, we're not hearing anymore of your false stories. Come on Kyouya, I'm gonna change, so let's get away from this nasty old man.", Tamaki said in full sarcasm as he loosened his tie all the way and tilting his body towards the direction of the grandiose staircases.
"I guess it can't be helped. Kyouya, I'm so sorry that you always had to babysit this helpless kid. He must really get on to your nerves at some point, doesn't he? Can you imagine he'd even need you to audience while he changes his wardrobe? My my, to think he tries to act so tough around Fujioka-chan. I'm pretty sure he messes that one up too." The chairman put his fingers lightly over his lips as he chuckled over his successful bullying.
"Fine! Never mind. I don't need you to go with me." Tamaki hurried his way up, absolutely forgetting that what he originally tried to do was keep Kyouya away from his dad's embarrassing dirty tricks.
Being left by Tamaki, the two men thought it was a precisely great opportunity for them to pick up small interesting details. The chairman broke the silence and started small talk before his son gets back.
"Kyouya, I learned you disobeyed your father's order of keeping your friends away from Lady Eclair. One of the Hitachiin brothers injured; and you even had Haninozuka and Morinozuka to get rid of your own private police force to get through Tamaki."
"Well—" Kyouya sensed that the chairman might not see him as a reasonably model son of the Ohtori's anymore. It was indeed him who started that heedless defiance yesterday. As much as he's aware of it, he doesn't feel the urge to apologize as well. "—it was also thanks to the Chairman's chauffer that we got to the twins in no time and got Tamaki back before he could reach the airport."
"If you consider my sneaking-behind-your-father's-back as great help, then I'm honored that I have..." Even in serious matters with serious people such as Kyouya Ohtori, the chairman didn't lose his attitude as an annoying dad of mockery. "…just be sure you keep it from him, alright? After all, due to your actions, Tamaki didn't step foot to France. You might have done it for your benefit too but Tamaki's grandmother obviously tested him for a sound decision—even if she said he gave him consent. I'm sure the fact that you decided that critical thing for him. Making him stay will help his situation. It's about time Tamaki is allowed to live in the main mansion. Even my child still doesn't know how to take maters objectively; it's all thanks to having such an able friend like you."
Gave him consent? Oh, yes, Shima mentioned it over the phone too. Well, I wasn't really there in actuality when the club greeted his grandmother…but the members surely would've relayed to me vital information such as that. In fact, they too were dumbfounded. I doubt they made an agreement during that single moment his grandmother showed face at the Fair. Unless, she talked to Tamaki personally…that is highly unlikely for a woman of her liking.
Kyouya got fixed on that part. He couldn't seem to believe a person as scheming as Tamaki's grandmother would just allow him to go free to France. That was what Shima-san told him yesterday too. This information needs further research, he side noted. "I didn't really decide things for him, concerning that matter. All I did was to fuel my peers' inner desire of wanting Tamaki to finish the club he had started. I credit our friends as well, especially Haruhi Fujioka for getting Tamaki back in a literal sense. But even with the odds' favors towards us, there was no guarantee that Tamaki would choose to stay. I think… coming back to Ouran…is a decision he made himself."
Sound of car engines have gone fluttering again all over the mansion's receiving area, that was a few steps away from the doors—reason why both the Chairman and Kyouya turned their attention to the vehicles arriving.
It was not so late in the afternoon that all of them winded up at the entrance of the Suoh's second mansion. Supposing, an unplanned turnout. Apparently, the twins took the Haninozuka's ride and the three have just stepped out of the Rolls Royce to give way to the car following them.
It was Kaoru who graciously greeted Mori's automobile and stepped right to the side of the passenger's seat, assuming he could open it. As the car door swung open, Haruhi couldn't help but still feel the need to whisper a small 'thanks' like it was standard operating procedure to do so. Meanwhile, Mori handed his keys over to one of the mansion's chauffeurs consentingly. Unmistakably, it's safe to assume Mori did that in reluctance no matter how expressionless he may look.
"Kyouya Senpai!" Hikaru started to wave as all of them walked their way in. "Hey, have you been here all along? We rushed when you messaged back you are already waiting. The Chairman's here too! Hello Sir!"
"Good afternoon Chairman!" the rest of them chorused and bowed their heads in a quick deep nod.
"My my, it's the rest of the crew. It's nice to see you delightful kids. You're just in time!" the old man amusingly threw back.
"In time—" started Hikaru as Kaoru finished, "—for what?"
"Everybody's here already?" coming from a voice echoing from the staircase.
"As I was saying…Tamaki, you shouldn't have changed your clothes after all. Since your friends are here, I wanted you kids to finish the party that was just starting to burn up before I pulled out."
"What?! You could've said that sooner!" Tamaki halted in irritation a couple of feet before he could blend with the group.
"Well, earlier I thought that you and Kyouya had some place to go. It's just now I figured it's a random day out with the club so I'm suggesting a place for you kids to kill time. Besides, I was the guest of honor so you are more than free to become my proxy. Furthermore…" , Chairman Yuzuro gave his assistant a glance and with the snap of his fingers, the amenable subordinate hurried to the chairman's car and was back to hand in the thing of request way before the clock ticks a full minute. From a teasing dad, the Chairman had a quick change of aura as he handed the elegant paper bag to Haruhi Fujioka. It's just how Tamaki would hand a piece of rose to his regulars—faces so close with pair of hands not letting the other pair go. It was yet again another unsurprising surprise for Haruhi while she was starting to form cold sweats. "…you don't want be as sloppy as you are while pretty little Haruhi here looks dashing and cute with this lovely dress I got for her."
Right then and there, a hypothetical waterfall was running down Haruhi's nape. The chairman's eyes and hands were still glued to hers so she figured, maybe, he's waiting for a soft, "Eeeerrrr, ummm, ttthhank you?".
Tamaki stormed in between them and replaced the chairman's hands with his while casting heavy fiery eyes on his dad. "Keep your hands off of Haruhi, please!"
With Tamaki's hands on hers, it was fairly easy for Haruhi to shove it off and so she did. With all her might, she tried to look more natural than abashed. Tamaki had that "shocked" expression again, although there's obviously no need for it because Haruhi frequently does that. But instead of crouching at the corner on his knees, he vented his surprise on the Chairman. "…and why do you keep a lady's shopping bag with you?!" he asked through pouted lips.
"Could it be the opening of the Chairman's Lake House? The Ohtori's had your invitation last week and I'm sure the party is mainly for the members of Lake House Society, isn't it?", as always, Kyouya butts in right in time to stir back Tamaki's souring mood.
"Lake…House…Society?", Haruhi, Hunny and the twins repeated the unfamiliar name as a question.
"Although the Lake House Society is not a secret organization, it's normally famous with Home and Real Estate enthusiasts, some architects , housewives of profound businessmen and a couple of veterans who all have lake houses all throughout Japan. It's a fairly small intimate new group." Kyouya gave back up to the unknowing four. Following up a conclusion he directed to the Chairman, "I'm just certain that my father couldn't make it. He has matters to attend to in Europe, I guess. I apologize for his nonattendance."
"It doesn't matter now, does it? Even I myself parted from the event! With that said, you should fill-in for your father as well. There's no reason now for the rest of you not going because two of the members are already booked, so if you kids could do me a favor, everybody should go as well!", Yuzuru exclaimed with such eagerness. "Kyouya, since you're familiar with the house, would you mind leading Haruhi Fujioka to a room where she could change. Tamaki, hurry up and change your sloppy attire already."
"Why does Kyouya get to show Haruhi the changing room?!" Tamaki argued thinking 'that's no fair'.
"And we are coming along!", Hikaru exclaimed tactlessly. "Haruhi might need some help putting on the dress, you know.", and Kaoru added a tease.
"Yay! Let's get Haru-chan to the room! Right, Left, Right, Left…!" the small Hunny-senpai jingled a marching chant as the five of them followed Kyouya down the hallway.
When the six members were off sight, it was only then that the Chairman reminded Tamaki what he was supposed to be doing before the group could get back and leave without him.
...
"Haru-chan!" Hunny voiced out his familiar adorable tone of amazement as Haruhi stepped out of the room she changed in to.
"You look so cute!" the twins chorused with Hunny as the three doted on Haruhi with flashy flowery eyes and arms like octopus draping her around.
Mori heavies a stare towards the bunch like he normally does. But this time he had his eyes full on a certain underclassman-detecting a gaze that he thought was heavier than what he himself could offer. Unusually, it was Kyouya's way of staring that he found discreetly noticeable.
"Come along guys" the underclassman said pushing back his glasses to the bridge of his nose. Right away, it masked the raised eyebrow and incomprehensible aura his cool blunt face has shown.
"Hmm", Mori thought loudly out of his head as he tailed the train of heads that was following the dark-haired boy with the weird stare. Hunny was quick to pick up on that one, looked up to Takashi, muttered a questioning "Huh?" as if mentally connecting their thoughts, then focused back emptily on the trail they're following.
...
The dress that the Chairman offered was somewhat casual for Haruhi's way of thinking. Since it's handed to me from elite members of this country, this pretty dress is surely on the not-so-formal side of the closet. I think this is the kind of dress any girly girl of their rank would wear on a shopping day, or even a date if it were Mei-chan's way of reason. It came along with a pair of luscious tangerine wedge sandals—second thing that caught Haruhi by surprise following the casualness. She wore a style that totally was age-appropriate for her. The dress had a laced white sleeveless top that is evident only until at her waist where a slim belt of gold divides the attire to butter yellow skirt that she thought was hugging her like a bandage until past midway her thigh. The short bandage skirt was overlaid by a chiffon mullet skirt that was also tugged under the belt. The sheer skirt of chiffon was just an inch longer than the bandage skirt if you look at it from the front, then it would fall down on the back of Haruhi's knees on the rear view. The pastel colors of yellow were creatively asymmetrical too. The mullet skirt manifestly darkens its tone until the tip of the triangle, which comes in level with the back of Haruhi's knees, into a vibrant shade of tangerine. Now, Haruhi figured the significance of the tangerine and orange flowers decorated on her sandals. There is a white gold material vertically decorated on the body of the sandals that was right straight below the ball of her heels. It was strongly attached to the maple wood of a platform, thus intrigued Haruhi if it were made out of real gold. In a darkly lit place, the wedge sandals may look more like a peep-toe sharp platform shoes—just like what celebrities on television are so used to wear.
When they were back at where the Chairman had been waiting for them, Haruhi was suddenly conscious of her bare arms and legs. "Ah, there you are! I knew you'd look cute on that dress!" the Chairman greeted them as they walked their way towards where he was standing.
"Thank you for the dress sir" Haruhi bowed to hide her face and avoid any more eye contact from anyone in the room. She would casually scratch the back of her hands or cross her arms or interlace her fingers over and over as they stood to wait for Tamaki.
"I've already had your cars started a while ago. You may go ahead out if you must. I'll be calling on that son of mine for such a delay he's causing. You boys know that we're not supposed to make ladies wait, right?"
"Right!" Hunny and the twins saluted the Chairman with their right hand and began to step out as Mori lead their way. Haruhi followed on, walking cautiously, as Kyouya tailed the train.
They are at the steps of the mansion's huge doors when Morinozuka's ride swiftly parked in front of them.
"Haruhi! Come on, you should at least fix your hair a little bit!" Hikaru wailed.
"Yeah. Here, put your hairline on your left—just like mine." Kaoru helped out as he lightly swept Haruhi's hair towards the direction of his liking. Haruhi helped him out with her small fingers and finally made her hair look more kept.
"Good job Haru-chan and Kao-chan!" Hunny gave his approval to the two the first years.
While the three of them had been so fixated on Haruhi's hairstyle, Hikaru was already busy glorifying their senpai's personal black Lamborghini Reventon. He was somehow making his face the car's washcloth with the way he rubs with it then squealed, "Let me take the passenger's seat Mori-senpai". This looks like fun…and fast too.
"Hey wait a second, Hikaru! You can't engage in such business because your arm is still hurt! Now, why don't you let me ride with you Mori-senpai!" Kaoru couldn't help but butt in.
"No way! Usa-chan and I want to ride it too! Takashi just got it this morning and I haven't laid a pinky on his car yet!" Hunny protested as he too, matched the eagerness of the two brothers.
Meanwhile, Chairman Yuzuru checked on Tamaki in his room.. "Tamaki, you're friends have already gone to their cars."
"Hang on, dad! It's your fault you didn't stop me when I changed earlier!" Tamaki is right in front of his full-body antique bronze mirror that fully complemented his French-style room. He was just finishing up tightening his black tie when his dad came up to him, placed hands on his shoulders, and steered him facing the old man.
"Here, why don't you wear this white gold tie" Chairman Yuzuru is untying the knot his son made and was about to make a new one with the tie of his choice.
"But isn't the event formal?" Tamaki asked.
"Do you see me wearing a black tie? No, right? So hurry up now." The Chairman finished the knot with finesse. "I need to go ahead of you kids first. I need to catch a flight. Have a great time with your friends, son" and he went on glancing at his pocket watch as he smoothly walked his way downstairs.
"Okay, I'll be right with you" Tamaki was still adjusting his tie and fixing his hair over and over even though it didn't really make any difference.
...
Kyouya had a burned out look on his face as he watched the three boys still making a commotion about who's going to win over Takashi's passenger's seat. Haruhi who was standing almost beside him is noticeably brushing her arms when a rush of air fanned their direction. He stared at the blazer he's hanged on his right forearm for a minute but then decided to make a quick peek on his watch. Suddenly, he felt a warm heavy hand on his shoulder.
"I'll be going ahead, Kyouya, dear boy. Haruhi...have fun at the party, lad!" the Chairman hurried down the steps right on time when his chauffeur opened the car door.
An idea flashed in Kyouya's thoughts. Initially, he wasn't sure what he wanted to affirm but his own mouth just can't help but ask. "By any chance, are you going to the airport, Mr. Chairman?" quickly he inquired before the old man could get in the vehicle.
"Yes. I have to be double time now as my flight to Paris will be leaving in twenty minutes. Enjoy!" the older man retaliated when he made himself comfortable inside and had the door closed. Right when his car went fleeting out the driveway, hurried footsteps from the background are just about to join the six other people that remained.
Tamaki has just stepped out of the door and in to the scene. Instantaneously, he got perplexed with the sight the fine young lady before his eyes. "Ha..ru..hi… what are you wearing?", he was almost at the brink of tears for he was so mystified on how charming Haruhi is—completely neglecting that he was the only one wearing such ceremonial accouterments while everybody else wears not even semi-formal pieces.
Haruhi was totally not ready for that sudden remark. She barely noticed that somebody has added with them already. Not to mention, it was somebody she had been desperately tried to avoid.
"What?!" Haruhi irritably answered back as rude as she could come to be just to cover the anxiety she's forming. She instinctively raised her paper bag as though covering her outfit. Now she thinks her stomach is swirling…all because she isn't acquainted with her pet butterflies yet.
"Oh Haruhiiiiii….." the twins called her out which she graciously thanked God for.
"So what do you think?" Hikaru asked.
"Mori-senpai said it's your call" Kaoru added.
"Me? But why…" Haruhi looked at Mori who sincerely looks like he's waiting for her reply. "Oh, it's okay with me. Don't worry about it. I can ride with whomever. I'd just go with Hunny-senpai then." She thought it was a sound decision. A fair exchange of rides with the twins and also, a company she wouldn't feel in continuous search for conversation (Mori); irritated or annoyed (twins); awkward (Kyouya); and sick (Tamaki).
"But Haru-chan! The three of us decided to ride together! We we're just waiting for you to decide…see, I knew you'd be nice enough to agree so I sent my chauffeur home!" Hunny had a sympathetic look, with a mixture of dolefulness for he didn't expect Haruhi to choose him over and to think what a wasted opportunity it would be to have Haruhi as his guest.
"Uhh, it's okay Hunny-senpai! Don't worry about it!" Haruhi says that but her face has obviously stiffened from the thought being all the choices she could've made herself tolerate are now officially eliminated on her list. She rigidly turned to face Kyouya instead, as if he's the only feet for her disabled legs.
"Haruhi we should go together! After all, daddy has matching ties with your shoes so we perfectly blend in with each other…." Tamaki started his long babbling offer but in spite of his irrelevant talk about colors and accessories that have nothing to do with each other...his unharmonious tune of excitement has fallen mute in Haruhi's selectively deaf hearing.
"It leaves me no other choice then. Kyouya-senpai, can you take me with you?" Haruhi blurted out with all her guts paying no mind to the insignificant bumbling noise.
"Eeeeeeeek! No….other….choice…." Tamaki shrieked out despair as he was totally fading away in the backdrop. "But Haruhi…." he reached out his hand to her before he's completely washed out from the scene.
The motion was successfully deflected from as Haruhi pivoted her right shoulder just enough so he couldn't reach it. Unconsciously, her right hand clutched the edge of Kyouya's cuffed sleeve—as if her body made an excuse for her sudden evasion. "Let's go Kyouya-senpai." She voluntarily steps down somewhat dragging Kyouya as she pointed to the vehicle in front of them. On every angle, Haruhi looked more like a fish desperately swimming out from a shark. And by desperate, it was evident by how she invited herself to Kyouya Ohtori's car.
Hunny and the twins had already sneaked their way inside of Mori's car trampling each other to fit as soon as Haruhi had given her consent. They honked to them…especially to Tamaki who was left paralyzed with jaw dropped open by Haruhi's brusque low blow.
"Quit attracting flies, Tamaki. Let's go." Kyouya followed down the steps, and attempted to revive Tamaki with a remark right before he slid inside his car and closed the door shut.
AN: Thanks for the readers :) I appreciate you guys...I hope you'd like how this would go. :)