A/N: Here's the next chapter! I hope it will hold you over for awhile, because I probably won't be posting another chapter for a few weeks. My work schedule has changed and I've got vacation coming up, so things are kind of crazy. Enjoy!
...
Haruhi was skeptical. Each of the previous sleepovers had led to a kiss or more. Cuddles, hand-holding, intense looks, she felt like she'd be walking into a trap if she agreed to another sleepover.
After much contemplation, Haruhi decided it wouldn't be fair to Kyoya if she didn't attend, but she resolved to not be alone with any of the hosts if she could help it. She hadn't figured out what they were up to yet, but she wasn't going to make it easy for them to accomplish.
At the Ootori estate they once again started with homework, much to Haruhi's relief.
"All done!" Haruhi declared, closing her book. The others followed suit.
"Great!" Tamaki exclaimed, throwing his arms around Haruhi. "Then lets go play hide-and-seek in the gardens! Wait 'till you see them, Haruhi! The Ootori's garden is huge!"
The group all muttered their agreement and made their way outside. The sun was nearly set and Haruhi couldn't make out anything past the first row of shrubs outside.
"How are we supposed to play hide-and-seek in the dark? We won't be able to find anything out here!" Haruhi was already regretting her choice to come. Fairness to Kyoya wasn't worth tripping and breaking her neck.
"That won't be a problem." Kyoya walked to a box on the back wall of his house. He opened it and flipped several switches before turning back to the group. "Is that better, Haruhi?"
"Wow," was all she could say. The gardens were beautifully illuminated now. There were decorative orbs in the ground lighting the pathways, and larger display lights in the distance around various statues and decorative shrubbery. She had to admit, the grounds around the Ootori mansion were vast. Haruhi wasn't sure if she could see the end. Every direction was more bushes, flowers, and vines, and she was excited to walk through and see it all. "It's beautiful, senpai."
Kyoya smiled to himself and led the group down the back steps to the vine-laden archway that led into the gardens. "Here are the rules: whoever is 'it' will count from this archway. Everyone else has just one minute to hide, and the first one found will be 'it' in the next round. Furthermore, whoever is 'it' is not allowed under any circumstances to climb back up those stairs to the house, as it allows too good a view of the gardens. Who's first?"
"ME! I wanna be 'it' first!" Honey was jumping up and down, trying to make sure he was noticed.
"Okay Honey-senpai. Close your eyes and start counting." Kyoya was already heading into the gardens before the counting could commence.
"Yay!" Honey did a little spin to face himself away from the gardens and closed his eyes. "One, two, three..."
Everyone was off after that. The twins and Tamaki rushed ahead on the path, while Mori and Haruhi sauntered along. At a fork in the path the two split up as well, and Haruhi was on her own. She heard Honey finish counting in the distance ("Ready or not, here I come!") and knew she needed to actually find somewhere to hide and stop looking around so much. As she rounded a corner, someone grabbed Haruhi's arm and pulled her the opposite direction, causing her to yelp.
"Shh," Kyoya whispered into her ear, still holding her arm.
"Where did you come from, senpai?" Glancing around Haruhi realized she was in a hidden alcove in the bushes. Unless you were looking at it from just the right angle you wouldn't know it was there. "Oh," she said in understanding. Their location also explained their position. The space wasn't very large, and Kyoya had pulled Haruhi right back against him in order for them to both fit. So much for not being alone with any of them.
"Since it's your first time in these gardens I figured you wouldn't be able to find a good hiding spot. I thought I'd help out." He was still whispering and paired with his proximity Haruhi couldn't help the shiver that ran down her body. "Are you cold, Haruhi?"
Embarrassed that Kyoya had noticed, Haruhi blushed. She turned her head slightly to the side so she could whisper too. "No, I'm alright. Thank you for sharing your spot, senpai. It doesn't really seem like it was meant for two people, though."
He agreed with a quiet "Mmm."
They stood in silence for a few minutes, listening for their pursuer. Honey was stealthy, light on his feet. They couldn't tell where he was until he found someone. "I FOUND YOU TAMA-CHAN! Yay I found you, I found you!" He laughed in jubilation and then was suddenly silent again. The hunt recommenced.
"Sounds like they're on the other end of the garden. It could be awhile before they find us," Kyoya said into Haruhi's ear again. Another involuntary shiver ran down her body, and Kyoya's other hand went to Haruhi's other arm in response. He rubbed her arms up and down, wanting to warm her up. It just caused her to tingle more. Every nerve throughout her body touching him seemed more acute, she could feel his slightest movements against her.
"FOUND YOU, TAKASHI!"
Kyoya stopped rubbing, and tried to listen even harder. Honey's voice had been right on the other side of the bush they were hiding behind. Haruhi was holding her breath, not wanting to make any noise, her eyes wide at how close Honey was. Neither could hear which way he'd run off to until he'd found his next victim.
"GOT YOU! NICE SPOT HIKA-CHAN, KAO-CHAN!"
Haruhi let out the breath she'd been holding, uncharacteristically relieved that they hadn't been found yet. Kyoya smiled behind her, still holding her arms, but not recommencing his rubbing.
Several more minutes passed of them standing against each other silently before they heard the others again. "COME ON HONEY-SENPAI, WAITING AROUND IS BORING! LET'S END THIS ALREADY!" It was Hikaru who yelled, probably from the beginning arch judging by the direction of his voice.
"AWWWWW, OKAY I'M COMING." Honey couldn't have sounded more disappointed. The hiding duo had frozen again, hearing Honey only a few steps away. If he only looked the right direction they'd be found. They listened to him sulking away, no longer needing to walk quietly.
When Honey reached the entrance, they heard him once again. "OLLY OLLY OXEN FREE!"
"HARUHI, KYOYA! COME OUT ALREADY WE'RE WAITING!" Tamaki was just as impatient as Hikaru, especially having been found first.
Kyoya was by Haruhi's ear again. "Well, shall we?" His hand came off her and he gestured to the opening. Haruhi nodded and was the first to step out, surprised at how reluctant she was to leave the alcove. She waited for Kyoya and they made their way towards the group together.
"Don't tell the others we were together, Haruhi...it's more fun if they think there's two spots they couldn't find."
"Sure senpai. It'll be our secret," Haruhi agreed easily, having no intention of bringing it up. She didn't want to hear what her "father" Tamaki would have to say if he found out. Though at that thought, Haruhi realized Tamaki hadn't called himself her father in some weeks.
When they came into view of the others, Tamaki quickly ran up to them, glancing sideways at Kyoya. "Haruhi! Are you okay? Where were you? I was beginning to worry that something had happened!"
"I'm fine, Tamaki. I hear you got caught first!" She was quick to change the subject, and Kyoya was impressed at how subtle her evasion of his question was.
They all talked and joked for a few minutes until Tamaki was ready for another go. "Okay, I'm 'it', everyone ready?"
"Wait! We have an idea!" Kaoru jumped in front of the arch to prevent anyone running in. "Let's play sardines instead!"
"It's hide-and-seek, but in reverse!" Hikaru explained. "Whoever is 'it' has to go hide, and when time is up, everyone goes looking for the 'it' person! If you find them, you have to join them in their hiding spot. Last one to find the hiding spot has to be 'it' for the next round!"
"That sounds fun!" Honey exclaimed, and Mori nodded his agreement. Tamaki seemed to deflate a little, but Kyoya liked the potential for this game. "That would give everyone something to do instead of just sitting around for the whole game. Okay. How about 2 minutes to hide and a 10 minute limit for the rest of us to seek?" Kyoya spoke, ever the voice of reason.
"Sounds fine to me. It'll be fun, Tamaki!" With Haruhi's encouragement, Tamaki was back to his hyper self and ready to go.
"Okay everyone turn around then, and here I GO!" The sounds of his footsteps faded in the distance as Kyoya set a timer on his phone.
"Where do you think he'll hide?" Kaoru conspired.
"Maybe behind the archer statue?"
"Oh, there's that fountain in the west corner!"
"He was under a bench in the gazebo in the last round!"
"He really is more of an in-plain-sight kinda guy."
The guys threw around ideas while Haruhi listened. She didn't know the gardens well enough to join the discussion, and had half a mind to just explore when time was up instead of looking for Tamaki.
"That's two minutes. Let's get this over with." Kyoya started into the garden and the twins ran past him.
"Come on Takashi! I bet he's this way!" Honey was pulling Mori behind him as he turned a corner.
"Seems the others have formed teams. Care to join me?" Kyoya looked back at Haruhi, awaiting her answer.
"Um, sure. Where do you think he is?"
Kyoya smirked. "I think I know."
Haruhi followed him down the lit paths, listening as he explained the origin of various statues. Eventually, they made it to an archway like the one at the garden entrance. This one led to a perfectly round space, walls of shrubbery enclosing it. Tamaki was laying spread eagle on the ground looking up at the night sky.
"Tamaki, you aren't even hiding!" Haruhi now understood what the others had meant about his hiding abilities.
"Sure I am! You can't see me except through that entrance, right? Besides this is my favorite spot in the Ootori garden. Come look at the stars with me Haruhi, they just came out." He patted the ground next to himself and returned his gaze to the sky. Haruhi obliged, though there weren't many visible stars while surrounded by garden lights. Kyoya chose to sit against the shrubs instead.
She had to agree it was a pretty setting, but their time there was short lived. Honey and Mori found them next, and the twins weren't far behind.
"Aw we're last! Kaoru you be 'it' okay?" Hikaru asked. He preferred to be on the seeking end of this game.
"Sure. You can count from here." And without much fanfare Kaoru was off.
The game progressed much the same way, Haruhi teaming up with someone else every round. Honey was last to find Kaoru, Hikaru was last to find Honey, Tamaki was 'it' again when he failed to find Hikaru, and then Mori had a turn when he came across Tamaki last. Everyone had trouble finding Mori, almost all running out of time before they found him laying flat under a bush. Kyoya agreed to be 'it' next as they had all found Mori as a group.
"Come on, Haruhi, lets go!" When time was up Tamaki was quick to claim her as a partner.
"Actually I think I want to try a round on my own, Tamaki. Sorry." Haruhi walked down the path and disappeared from the group. She had a feeling she knew exactly where Kyoya would be, and didn't want to lead anyone else to his secret hiding spot. Sure enough, at the path that looked like it turned only to the right, she looked to the left, and found Kyoya smirking at her. She slid into the alcove in front of him again, this time so the were facing.
"I'm surprised at you senpai. I thought you would've been more creative than to pick the same spot twice."
"It's the best spot," he answered simply.
Their bodies were touching again as demanded by the tiny space, and Haruhi was glad they weren't the same height. Then their faces might have to touch too...and wasn't that an interesting idea? Kyoya shifted his weight, bumping her slightly and causing another betraying shiver. She looked up to see him watching her. "It certainly seems so."
He lifted a hand to her arm again in response to her shiver, but then continued up to her chin. With a finger under her chin he kept her head tilted up to him. "Do you remember the beach, Haruhi?"
He did. Kyoya remembered very clearly the helpless position he had her in that day. He thought of it often, of how she hadn't pulled away. She wasn't pulling away now either.
"Yes." How could she not?
"You were wrong, then. I had something to gain." With that, Kyoya lowered his head down to hers, pressing his lips lightly against Haruhi's.
She had expected it and yet was shocked by Kyoya's action. He was kissing her! It was short-lived though, because footsteps were heading their way. Kyoya pulled back, releasing Haruhi's chin in the process. She stared at him, mouth slightly open. He pulled his own eyes away from hers, to see who was about to find them.
"Aha! I knew I'd find- Haruhi? I didn't think anyone would find Kyoya's spot but me." Tamaki frowned at the hiding duo, noticing Haruhi was only looking at Kyoya. "Well, make room!" He tried to bring his enthusiasm back; he was going to be squished in with Haruhi!
Kyoya grabbed Haruhi at the waist and squished them further into the branches so Tamaki could wiggle his way in next to them. His touch seemed to release her from whatever trance she was in, allowing her to look down at his hands and then over at their new hiding mate.
"There's only about a minute left and then the others lose!" Tamaki brightened even more at his latest thought.
Haruhi managed a small smile for him and then looked down to wait out the remaining time. Tamaki looked at Kyoya, instinctively knowing what had happened. He wasn't as blind of a King as he knew the group thought he was. Something had clearly happened before he walked in on them.
Kyoya gave a small shake of his head. This wasn't the time or the place.
When time was up the three stepped out of the alcove and headed back to the start silently.
Haruhi didn't know what to think. That was the fourth host to kiss her, and she had no idea why. She had even known it was coming in the end, and she had done nothing.
"There you guys are! Kyoya-senpai you have to show us this awesome hiding spot of yours!" Kaoru was impressed that Kyoya had evaded nearly everyone again.
"If I did that it wouldn't be much of a hiding spot, would it? I think it's time to go inside."
Haruhi found herself being herded up the stairs with everyone else, curious what could possibly be next.
"I've created a scavenger hunt. I have a list of items for you all to find around the house. First one to find them all and return to me will win a prize."
"What's the prize?" Kaoru wanted to know.
Glasses gleaming, Kyoya answered, "That depends on the winner." He handed a small sheet of paper to every participant and a bag to collect their items in, and sent them on their way.
"That prize is ours!" Hikaru shouted as he ran off with Kaoru to find the first thing.
"Not a chance!" Tamaki countered, heading off as well.
"Come on Takashi! Let's find the first item!" Honey and Mori didn't get very far before Honey spun back around. "Kyo-chan our lists are different!"
"An astute observation, Honey-senpai. Yes, everyone has different things listed to prevent cheating and to give everyone a fair shot of finding things. Otherwise one person could get to an item first, take it, and there might not be another in the house for anyone else."
"Aww I guess we have to split up, Takashi. I wonder when the others will notice?" They duo walked away in different directions.
"Good luck, Haruhi," Kyoya said as he, too, left.
Alone at last, Haruhi was at a loss. She didn't know what was going on or why the others were doing this to her. Worst was that no one ever brought it up again! She looked down at the list in her hand. Dish soap, paper clip, hair band, and several other very common things. Haruhi was pretty sure she had a few of them in her own bag.
Her hand started to crumple the paper, frustrated that they were playing yet another game while she stood here clueless. She didn't care about some stupid prize! But maybe she should. If I win, maybe I can get answers as my prize. Resolute, Haruhi straightened out her paper and set to work on the scavenger hunt. She would win.
Haruhi's biggest disadvantage was that she didn't know her way very well around the Ootori mansion. When she needed to find a bathroom she found a study, when she wanted the library she found a back door to the kitchens.
Occasionally she'd run across a member of staff and they would point her in the correct direction, but the other hosts she came across seemed to be trying to prevent her winning. They distracted her or sent her the wrong way, and it made Haruhi want to win even more.
Finally, she had only one item remaining: a hair from Kyoya's head. It seemed too convenient, and it gave Haruhi pause. It had to be another trap. Shaking her head Haruhi steeled herself for their encounter. She would find Kyoya, pluck a hair, and get her answers. Nothing else was going to happen because she was going to demand answers before anything could.
Haruhi headed for Kyoya's room quickly, not wanting to lose her nerve. She threw open the door and stepped in practically yelling, "Kyoya-senpai!"
She had more to say. She'd rehearsed the speech in her head on the way up, if only she could get the words out! But she was speechless as soon as she saw him. Kyoya was in front of his desk, looking down at his computer. He wore pajama bottoms but his shirt was missing, and a towel wrapped around the back of his neck fell onto his chest.
It reminded Haruhi of the beach, seeing him like this. It reminded her of Kyoya towering over her then and of what he said less than an hour ago. "I had something to gain."
He turned at the sound of her voice, smiling when he noticed her staring. "Sorry Haruhi, I felt the need for a...cool shower. Are you already done?"
He didn't sound sorry at all, and he made no move to rectify his attire, instead dropping his towel onto his desk chair. She followed the movement with her eyes, before snapping back up to concentrate on his face. His question brought her back to her purpose. She was here for answers, and she needed one of his hairs to get them.
She wanted to make sure, first. She had to find out if he would even give answers, otherwise there was no reason to finish the hunt. "Kyoya-senpai-"
"Kyoya," he corrected her.
She started again, even more nervous now. "Kyoya...you said the prize depends on the winner." She stepped further into the room and closed the door behind her, dropping the bag of items on the floor.
"Mm hmm," he confirmed, stepping over to a bookshelf on the wall.
His movement made her feel the need to close the distance again and she approached a few steps closer as she talked. "Well I wondered if I could choose my prize...if I win?" She tacked the end on as an afterthought, recognizing that she actually hadn't won yet. One of the others could easily walk in before she achieved her goal.
Kyoya was intrigued. "That would depend on what you want...if you win that is."
"I want answers."
"I wasn't aware you had questions."
"I want to know why you kissed me! Why nearly everyone has!"
Kyoya raised an eyebrow. "As smart as you are Haruhi I would've expected you to know those answers already."
"Will you answer or not?" But Kyoya had already given her an answer to a question she hadn't asked, probably on accident, Haruhi realized. She had wondered if any of the hosts knew that she'd been kissed by multiple of them. Apparently Kyoya knew, at the very least.
Kyoya smirked. "Win the scavenger hunt and you'll find out."
Determined to grab a strand of his hair, Haruhi stalked forward. Directly in front of him she reached her left hand towards his head only for it to be stopped in mid air by his own. He pulled her arm around, forcing her body to follow until her back was against the wall. He pulled the arm back down to her side, holding it there, and placed his other hand against the wall by her head, effectively pinning her. His body was close to hers but not touching as he stared, waiting. "Well, are you going to win the scavenger hunt or not?"
Haruhi's heart was pounding in her chest and she felt frozen to the wall. One of her hands was still free though, and with it, she slowly reached up to Kyoya's head. His eyes followed her hand, watching as she separated one damp strand from the others and delicately plucked it from his scalp.
Her hand hovered there by his head as he returned his gaze to hers. She was frozen again, waiting for him to do something. "It seems you've won, Haruhi. I can't give you the answers you're looking for right now, but I can help you along. When two people share a kiss it's not generally because they hate each other."
She let out the breathe she hadn't realized she was holding, surprised he had any answer at all.
"And now for your prize."
Haruhi's pulse quickened even more as he lowered his head to hers. He hovered above her mouth a moment, giving her a chance to turn her head away or slap him with the hand still hovering near his head or anything at all. When she didn't, he kissed her.
It wasn't as gentle as their former kiss. The wall provided a stability they didn't previously have, allowing Kyoya to press their lips more firmly together. Her hovering right hand came down to rest against Kyoya's bare chest, clutching at it, instead of pushing him away as he was expecting. His left hand moved to caress the back of Haruhi's neck, the rest of his body closing the distance between them as she responded to his every movement, moving her mouth with his.
God, how he wanted this. And he could have more too. It would be so easy for him to release her arm and run his hand up her side. He could make his way under her shirt or he could even make his way lower. She was defenseless, his for the taking. He growled, deep in the back of his throat, frustrated with having to retrain himself.
And then he felt her shaking. Haruhi was scared. He had done that. Shame ran over him. How could he have allowed those thoughts? He pulled away from her, now disgusted with himself. She wasn't ready for more, and he couldn't push it. He could've ruined everything.
He sighed as he rested his forehead against hers. His eyes remained closed, not wanting to see what horror he had put onto her face. Kyoya wanted to apologize for scaring her or forcing her into something she didn't want. He wanted to apologize for all of them, but that would be a step in the wrong direction, and he couldn't afford that.
He released her left arm which he had still been pinning to the wall and stepped back. He was looking down when he finally opened his eyes and turned his back on Haruhi. "The others should be finishing up soon if you want to sit and wait." He walked to his bed and grabbed the shirt he had abandoned there. He threw his towel into a hamper and then sat at his desk, keeping his eyes firmly on his computer.
His reluctance to face her prevented him from seeing the myriad of emotions crossing Haruhi's face. Kyoya missed the flush of her cheeks, the widening of her eyes. He failed to notice how breathless she was, or how she too, hadn't opened her eyes right away. As he turned away from her, Kyoya didn't spot the confusion in her face, the corners of her mouth turning down. He didn't see the rejection and pain in her eyes.
Haruhi wanted to cry and didn't know why. She was confused, frustrated, and aggravated by what kept happening to her. She wasn't helpless but somehow she kept acting like it. Haruhi didn't understand the fear that crossed her every time either. What did she think they would do, hurt her? And she was never prepared for how completely they all ignored the incidents afterwards. Kyoya had just turned away like nothing had even happened! More than once she thought she'd dreamed the touches and the kisses. She wasn't sure if she wanted it to be a dream or not. Most importantly, she didn't know what to do about it.
Haruhi took Kyoya's advice and sat. She slid down the wall she'd been frozen to and pulled her knees up to wrap her arms around them. This wasn't a dream, so it stood to reason that the others hadn't been dreams either. His answer kept replaying in her head: "When two people share a kiss it's not generally because they hate each other." It wasn't an answer at all, really. Haruhi knew the others didn't hate her, even before this insanity began. And what did he mean, share? Those kisses were most definitely stolen, not shared. Right? How could he just turn away after that? She had kissed him back, enjoyed the feeling of him against her, and she thought he had felt the same. "They don't hate each other," huh? I guess they just use each other then. Haruhi felt abandoned.
Honey burst into the room, interrupting her train of thought. "Kyo-chan!" He took in the scene before him and paused. Haruhi had glanced up at him, looking lost, and Kyoya was very pointedly not looking at him. Honey didn't want to draw attention to the situation, so he tried to remain enthusiastic. "Aww no, looks like I didn't win! I really thought I would be first!"
Before Kyoya could answer, Mori stepped quietly into the room, followed closely by a rushing Hikaru, Tamaki and then Kaoru. The latter three were out of breathe when they came to a stop.
"I win!" Hikaru announced.
"Not quite," Kyoya said, finally standing up to face the group. "Haruhi beat you all by quite a large margin. I'm embarrassed for you, honestly."
Honey had made his way to Haruhi as the others entered and reached down to grab her hands. "It'll be okay, Haru-chan. If you dwell on the past you might miss the next bit of fun in your future!" He tugged her hands towards himself, trying to urge her to her feet. As far as he was aware the others hadn't noticed her yet, and he wanted it to stay that way. Her position was enough to make some of the hotter heads of the group angry, and that would ruin everything they were working towards.
Haruhi listened intently as Honey spoke. He was the most straight-forward of the group, unafraid to speak his mind. He had been the only one to mention something had happened with them after the fact, even if he'd been forced into it by Truth-or-Dare. If he was saying everything was going to be okay, then everything would be. Haruhi nodded and stood up.
Together they made their way to a couch where the others were getting settled. Haruhi listened as they regaled each other with epic tales of their adventures through the house. She laughed along as expected, and managed to spin her own story into a much more harrowing tale than it was. It felt necessary since she was almost positive, now especially, that Kyoya had given her an easier list on purpose. He had wanted her to win.
Late into the night they laughed and talked as was now tradition at the end of their evenings, Haruhi fidgeting with a thin black hair the whole time.
...
A/N: In case anyone has a severe case of amnesia (or perhaps never saw the anime) I wanted to clarify. When Kyoya asked Haruhi if she remembered the beach he was referring to Episode 8: The Sun, the Sea, and the Host Club, wherein Kyoya had Haruhi in a compromising position. Haruhi showed no fear though, knowing that Kyoya "wouldn't do it" (take advantage of her) because he had "nothing to gain."
