Chapter 2, King of the castle

The smell of freshly cooked eggs woke me up the next morning. To my surprise there he was again. Kyoya was sitting in an antique armchair in the corner of the room, tapping away on his laptop. I stared at him a bit longer deciding that he hadn't noticed me wake up and I smiled subconsciously at the thought that he might have stayed with me all night. On my bedside table was a beautiful looking plate filled with a mini mountain of scrambled eggs and I felt my stomach growl in delight.

"I was wondering when you would wake up," Kyoya said, shutting his black, glossy laptop.

"Semp-"

"Please, call me Kyoya. I can't stand the formality with you,"

"Okay, Kyoya. Why are you looking after me? Where are the others? Did you stay here all night?" I asked although it all came out at once. My raced voice startled both him and me, I was kind of put off guard by how nervous I sounded. Thankfully he just chucked and took off his glasses, polishing them with his grey shirt.

"Well, because you are my guest of course. This is after all my father's hospital; out of everyone I should be the one serving you. The others have been ushered outside, they all came back after you fell asleep and demanded they sleep next to you. But of course, for basic privacy and," here he chuckled, " space issues. They were swiftly escorted back to the hotel. But of course, only after I assured them I would call them as soon as you woke, but as you can see I'm not in any hurry to do that. And technically no… I didn't stay here. I was in the suite on the floor above. But never far away."

Never far away…kinda still wish you slept beside me though

I nodded slowly. Looking out the window I stretched my arms up above my head and was surprised to find my drip had disappeared. My reflection in the mirror (new mirror, might I add) adjacent my bed showed me looking rather radiant considering the circumstances. Yawning, I considered his words and what happened last night. Why did I feel butterflies when he touched me? I never thought I felt anything for Kyoya before. The closest thing I had ever felt was the night he was teaching me a lesson. Sure, that took my breath away, but that was more a learning experience than anything else. I hadn't thought of it any other way.

Now that I thought about it, his grey t-shirt clung to his thin but sculpted chest. His dark eyes calculating but also shining with kindness only those who knew him well could see. I felt my cheeks grow warm and when he returned my gaze he raised an eyebrow at my staring nature.

I blushed and looked down, anxious to change topics.

"I suppose I am going to the beach today then?" I said, clearing my throat, trying to cover up my embarrassment.

"But of course, the boys have been up all night building your perfect castle. It would be disappointing if you didn't get to see it," he said, his voice back to the cool tone it often carried. He went back to typing on his laptop. Watching him a little longer I decided the conversation must be over and I felt a little bit of disappointment in my heart. I don't know what was coming over me, just because he wasn't petting my head and nursing me I should feel any less? I was being stupid and I ignorantly tried to convince myself it was the drugs that were altering my feelings.

I got up from my bed, feeling brand new and made my way to the dressing room (what need a hospital has for dressing room is beyond me) and glanced inside. Another frilly and figure suiting swimsuit similar to the one I wore to the beach, what felt like a life time ago, stood before me. The main piece to the twins' mother's collection I was sure. I remembered them gushing about it and how cute I would look in it a while ago, before being chastised by Tamaki for being perverted. It seemed to smirk at me with a smug, hitachiin smile and I almost walked out, not even bothering.

Swiftly I pulled off the gown and hung it over the door before trying the swimmers on. They fit perfectly of course, and I ran my fingers over my flat stomach as if straightening out an invisible shirt. I turned to leave and tripped over my own feet and fell hard into the plush carpet. In an instant Kyoya was by my side, holding my body in his arms examining my body for any damage.

"Haruhi, what happened are you okay?"

"I'm fine Sem- uh Kyoya. I just tripped," I said, blushing from my own clumsiness. I watched his dark eyes dripping with concern look over my body, until they stopped being full of concern and started showing a more raw emotion. I looked down at my half naked body and instantly felt slightly shameful. Pulling my arms up to my chest I broke away from him and he looked away and stood up holding out his hand to help me up.

Gruff, he stood stiffly and almost barked; "You should go. The others. They're waiting for you at the beach. I have…a meeting to attend."

And with that he almost ran out of the room. I felt exposed but the stronger emotion I was feeling was longing. Longing to know what he thought of me. I don't think Kyoya had ever paid me a compliment, and whilst I knew my figure wasn't that of a super model, it did look like he wanted me. Maybe a little. Or maybe I was imagining things. I was after all "as flat as an ironing board" as the twins had once put it. I frowned and went red in embarrassment, deciding to wrap myself in a towel before heading down.

I wound my way down the track down to the beach, kicking the sand up as I did. There was nothing I liked better than the feeling of sand between my toes, not that I'd ever admit that to any of the other hosts knowing how they would take advantage of that and then probably, in turn, ruin the experience for me.

When I made it down to the beach itself I gasped, the small house I had spied before had transformed into a beautiful structure. Intricate designs made their way up the walls and all I could do was stare.

"Harou chan!" Honey exclaimed, running out the gap representing a door way and towards me. "Do you like it? Do you like it? We stayed up all night building it! I even put some cakes and teddies inside. They are having a tea party, come see!"

"Hahah, oh Honey, I love it. You all did such an amazing job. Thankyou," I laughed and was pulled into the little cottage of sand and was encapsulated into a group hug. They'd fitted the one room with some light of beautiful proportion, how they managed to get electricity in here was beyond me.

"Stupid rich people" I muttered under my breath, still smiling though.

"Oh darling! I've missed you so much!" Tamaki grinned and put his arm around me. And to be fair, I suppose I missed him too. I kissed him on the cheek, and it must have been my good mood that was playing tricks on me but I actually said:

"Missed you too, daddy."

Tamaki pretty much exploded in delight and ran the length of the beach what felt like fifty times screaming girly comments about how cute I was.

Karou placed an arm around my shoulder and grinned mischievously.

"What?" I asked narrowing my eyes. I knew that look all too well. Hikaru appeared beside him putting his arm on Karou's shoulder.

"Oh nothing…except well we seem to remember a certain promise someone made to us quite a while ago," Hikaru smiled in such a way I couldn't help frantically looking around at the others for help. Mori Sempai stood in the corner hunched over trying not to hit the roof with his head. He looked at me pityingly before side stepping his way out of the castle.

"You said, when we showed you the swimsuit straight out of the magazine, you said, and I quote 'If you ever got me to wear that I would agree to take a photo with you two.'"

"I remember the conversation going a little differently than that!" I growled. In actual fact, technically I had said I would take a photo with them but it was so heavily dipped in sarcasm I didn't expect them to take my word on it. Before I knew it I was swept up in a threesome of a hug, my towel was on the ground and a professional photographer jumped out from behind a pile of cakes.

And as soon as it happened, it was over.

"What the?" I exclaimed blinking from the flash.

"See was that so hard?" They said smiling and grabbing each an arm, wrapping me back in my towel with such speed I almost lost my balance. And with each of my arms in theirs, they began walking me back towards the hotel we were apparently staying at.

Seeing such grandeur should have become something I was accustomed to by now but this hotel was something else. The high ceilings had angels carved into it and there were bouquets of flowers everywhere in very expensive blue china vases. I shuddered at the memory of my first accidental incident with a blue china vase. The twins walked me to my door but not before outlining very clearly where they were sleeping, which of course was just across the hall from me, and if I need anything to come see them first. They then mentioned very quickly that the others were a little further down and that dinner was at eight.

I was shut in my room, which was bigger than my apartment. Well the lounge room was bigger than my apartment alone. The windows were floor to ceiling and gave me magnificent views of the whole island we were staying on. I very quickly engulfed myself in the western designed shower and felt the hot water massage my skin for a while, washing every inch of me until I felt sure there was no salt left on me from the beach. Walking into the bedroom I was hardly surprised by the king sized bed that awaited me. Nor, the black dress lying on my bed with a note from Tamaki suggesting this dress is what I should wear to dinner. As my father he wanted me looking my best.

Disgusted by the flimsy fabric and expensive style, I left it there and explored my wardrobe further.

Not one pair of jeans or pants for that matter was in sight. All it contained were pretty dresses with more frill than I could take and heels so high, I couldn't understand how one could wear them and not manage to break their neck.

I grabbed a fluffy bathrobe and outraged, I stormed out of my room and down the hall. One of these rooms was Tamaki's and it was only a matter of trial and error before I found the right one.

The first door I came to was open ajar and I stormed in, head raging and hair still sopping wet.

"Tamaki! Who the hell do you think I-" I yelled before stammering, realizing whose room I was in.

Kyoya stood there wearing nothing but a white towel around his waist and a bemused expression on his face. His bed was identical to mine only with a red duvet and it was slightly rustled as if he had taken a nap recently.

"Am I not who you were expecting?" He mused, his eyes twinkling humorously. He smirked at me and began shaking his wet hair with his hand.

"Uh…no." I once again stuttered. I tried to form a proper sentence but I couldn't take my eyes off his hard and muscled chest. His arm muscles bulged modestly without him flexing and…why was I being such a dork about this? I'd seen plenty of guys shirtless, uh Haruhi! Stop it!

"Sorry Sempai…I'll uh…" I blushed, looking away. He waved after me in a nonchalant fashion.

"No, wait. I have something I want to discuss with you. If you don't mind waiting here for a moment while I put some clothes on?" he said, his eyebrows raised and if I didn't know any better I'd say it was said in a flirtatious manner. "There are some trackies and a hoodie over there if you want, something a little more conventional and covering to wear," he smiled, his eyes looking pointedly, but kindly at the bathrobe that was slipping off my shoulder revealing my bare skin. I blushed and pulled it up and thanked him, waiting until he left the room before putting on his clothes.

I lay the bathrobe over the chair and sat on the edge of his bed looking down at my fingernails, anxiously waiting for him. He walked back in, the room again filling with his cologne.

"What you thinking about Haruhi?" he asked, sitting next to me, wearing a tight, blue button up shirt and his usual jeans.

"Oh…umm nothing," I smiled, fiddling with my fingers. As soon as I said it, I felt his cool touch on my cheek, cupping my face up to look up and into his dark, mesmerizing eyes.

"Nothing at all ay? That's strange for you," he whispered moving his face closer to mine, his breath hot on my skin and I felt my breathing become hot and shallow.

"Its just I…" I never got a chance to finish what I was saying, because he beat me to what I was going to say. And by that, I mean, Kyoya Sempai kissed me.