I just realized I hadn't written since May! Yikes! Crazy mom/preschool teacher life takes its toll! This story hasn't been coming as easily as the last one I wrote partly because I want to do these characters justice, and I don't have a clearly laid out pacing like I did in the last one. I just followed the episodes in the last one so I kinda got to cheat LOL.

Ouran ch 6

Kyoya and Cece sat to eat their dinner in the setting sun. The candles around them promised night would be coming shortly, however the warm glow of the evening was still enough to illuminate Cece as she sat down while Kyoya held her chair.

She had on a thin lilac short sleeved sweater that paired perfectly with the bit of red in her hair. However, that bit was looking more like fire in the sunset. Kyoya could barely keep his eyes off her. He was doing his best to not be obvious, however he wasn't sure how well he was succeeding.

Her conversation with him kept ringing in the back of his head. She had been able to tell he was hosting her and she hadn't liked it. That had thrown him. No one had ever had the nerve to call him out on using his hosting skills. Most people probably assumed he was being polite. They would be correct, however perhaps because of their first meeting, she could tell that it went a little beyond just being polite. He gently coerced people into doing and acting as he wanted. Always had. It was a necessary skill to have in his world. He would never have made it as far as he had if he hadn't used those hosting skills.

The fact that she could tell so quickly after meeting surprised him. It also told him a little about her. It takes someone who has dabbled in those skills, to be able to see them in others. She must have a similar way of dealing with the public and society.

Kyoya realized he had been quiet for too long and then in the next instant realized that Cece had been silent herself. He focused on her to see her swirling her wine glass with her eyes closed and a ghost of a smile on her lips.

He had no idea what she was doing, but in the back of his mind, he knew he wasn't upset about whatever it was. It was an empty rooftop patio except for themselves so her relaxation was only being given to him. It made him feel a little warm.

"I'm surprised you can seem so relaxed around me after just meeting." He commented raising his own glass to his lips. "This is a very good chardonnay." He said half to himself and under his breath.

Cece had slowly opened her eyes and gave him a slight smile. "It is a good one. I had a chardonnay last week that tasted more like a Moscato it was so sweet." She grimaced a little as she spoke. "I still drank it, but that's what I get for buying wine that's too cheap." She shook her head of the memory and sipped from her glass again. She noticed Kyoya's confused face as she did. "Depending on your taste preferences, you can find good wines at surprisingly low price points. My favorite wines are less than 20 euro usually."

Kyoya's face registered more shock. He cleared his throat before answering. "It never ceases to amaze me the quality you can find at lower prices. Haruhi was the first to introduce us to this concept when we were in high school." It was Cece's turn to look confused for a moment.

"I have so many questions just from that statement. You were in high school when you found out about things that weren't upperclass?" She asked politely but Kyoya could see her intense curiosity with how he had grown up.

"Yes, as you probably already know the Ootori's are a family that wants the best. Budget is an unnecessary term for us and many of the families we associate with, including the Suohs. Haruhi was a scholarship student at our elite high school and she opened up a whole other world to us." Kyoya explained.

"With my family being titled and while I was a touring pianist, I experienced the life that you speak of, but living in it perpetually is something that I have trouble imagining at this point. You've seen my flat. It's perfectly comfortable for me." Cece explained her thoughts still without judgement. Kyoya saw her mind working trying to envision his life and probably not succeeding very well.

"My apartment now is probably only twice the size of your own, but in the house I grew up in, my closet was bigger than your flat and my bedroom was larger than my apartment." He explained. Cece's eyes widened.

"You don't like spaces that large anymore?" She asked curious. Kyoya shook his head.

"I'm not particularly fond of the large emptiness they give. There's no practical reason why one person needs that large of a space so I found something that suits my needs. I don't entertain there so anything more is unnecessary." He shrugged.

"What of your host club friends? Are you still close with them?" Cece asked as their main course arrived.

"We see each other as schedules allow. Several have families of their own now so it is increasingly difficult to find time." Kyoya said. Cece nodded in understanding. "I hope to meet them soon. They sound like a huge part of your adolescence." There was silence for some time as they ate. Cece noticed though that she didn't mind the quiet. It was fairly comfortable. Well, as comfortable as silence can ever be for her. The server came around with a lighter to light all the candles and offered more wine which they did not accept. As they finished the sun had fully set and the string lights had automatically switched on.

"How do you feel about port?" Kyoya asked with a bit of a twinkle in his eye. Cece looked at him with a bit of suspicion, but she couldn't hide her excitement.

"I love it if it's got enough depth to it. Why do you ask?" She questioned. Kyoya's only response was a smile as he stood and nodded at the waiter. He came around the table and offered Cece his hand. She took it with a hesitant look on her face as he pulled her gently from her seat. As they descended the steps of the roof terrace she saw what he had planned. There was a wooden walkway that ran the length of the shore in town and it was illuminated by lanterns. The server was at the bottom of the stairs with her shawl and a tray with two small glasses of port.

Kyoya wrapped the shawl gently around her shoulders and then handed her a glass. "Shall we, my lady?" He said in exaggerated hosting fashion. Cece's mouth quirked into a half grin and she pulled his glass from his hand and placed it in his other. Kyoya's brows furrowed the entire time she was moving until she took his now empty hand in hers so they could walk. Once he realized what she was doing, he awkwardly accepted it.

"Is this alright?" Cece asked him quietly.

"It's not a problem. I've just never done this before." Kyoya said matching her volume so they wouldn't be overheard as they began strolling down the walkway.

"I can't say I'm particularly experienced myself since I only had a few boyfriends in high school. Becoming a professional pianist doesn't leave you much time for romance." Cece admitted.

"Becoming a business executive at a young age also doesn't leave much time for romance." Kyoya agreed.

"Did you ever date anyone?" Cece asked him. "Hold on just a second, you're too tall…" Cece said stopping momentarily. She pulled her hand from his and readjusted the alignment of their fingers. Their palms were still together, but his forefinger was now intertwined with her pinky and the rest of her fingers curled around his palm and her thumb over his. "Is that uncomfortable?" She asked him.

"No, actually it feels quite natural. I had a few marriage prospects in college, but nothing came of any of them. What did you mean I'm too tall?" He asked curious. Cece held up their hands.

"The angle my wrist was at before was hurting so I adjusted it. I'm glad it feels better cause it definitely does for me." Cece smiled up at him. Kyoya glanced down at her and gave her hand a squeeze. He still felt ridiculously awkward since this was completely new territory for him, but he'd be damned if he was going to let it show. He was determined to make a good impression for all their futures. He had already butchered the first impression, but he owed it to their future and their families to make the best of their situation. Arranged or not, he wanted them to be comfortable with each other and so far it seemed like they were on a trajectory to achieve that goal.

Cece was thinking much the same thing and was feeling smugly satisfied since she knew she had thrown him a few times that evening and he had recovered very well every time. However, she knew he was trying to figure out how to hold her hand properly. He hadn't done anything obvious, but she could still tell in little ways like how he was holding his hand out away from his body a little awkwardly instead of letting it fall naturally. Or like how he was intensely scrutinizing the couple holding hands walking towards them. She felt his arm relax slightly and she gave his hand a little squeeze which kind of made him flinch.

"If you are uncomfortable with this, we don't have to." Cece said feeling a little guilty.

"Uncomfortable is not the right word. I would say inexperienced. This is something that not many people our age do in Japan. It's usually young couples who I see holding hands." He explained.

"Ah, I see. So you're saying we are too old." Cece teased. Kyoya glanced down at her. "That wasn't my intention, however we do have nearly a decade on most high schoolers." He teased right back.

"Well, the offer to let go still stands. You won't hurt my feelings since I made you do it. Full honesty, I wanted to hold your hand, but I also wanted to throw you off a little to see how you would react. I didn't mean to make you feel uncomfortable." Cece admitted sheepishly. Kyoya's glasses glinted in the lantern light. He pulled her by the hand to the side of the walkway with her facing him to let the couple behind them go past. He pulled their hands up between them and placed them with the back of her hand on his chest. She blinked up at him for a second.

"Are you saying you were testing me?" He asked in a low voice. He saw Cece's face flush a little.

"A bit. Mostly I was just curious to see how you would react. I will have to know these things and how a person deals with being uncomfortable can tell you a lot about who they are and their priorities." Cece said equally as quietly. Kyoya dipped his head to whisper in her ear.

"Did I pass your test?" He said. Cece's face blushed furiously, but she lifted her head to whisper back in his ear. "It wasn't pass or fail. However, am I passing yours?" Cece felt his chest start to move under her hand before she felt his forehead tap the top of her head. She realized he was holding back laughter.

"What's so funny?" She said teasingly indignant. When he didn't answer, she tried to pull her hand away to continue walking, but he pulled her back. This time her back was against his chest and their still connected hands wrapped around her waist. Kyoya spoke with laughter still in his voice.

"I was not laughing at you I promise you. I was laughing at the realization that I have never felt this comfortable and tense around anyone before. I had a similar thought the first time we met." He said.

"You mean when you invaded my home without invitation?" Cece teased wryly. Kyoya let his chuckle escape this time.

"Yes, exactly that time. Even though my jet lagged sleep deprived state, I recognized that you fascinate me in a way no one else has before." Kyoya said.

"That seems like a compliment to me so I'll take it as such. However, you think holding hands is awkward, yet you holding me against your chest seems perfectly comfortable for you." Cece teased him somewhat breathlessly. Kyoya blinked for a second and then gently let go so they could continue on their walk. Cece put her cool glass to her cheek to stop the flush that was still present. She didn't glance up to see the lantern light had taken on a slightly redder hue on Kyoya's cheeks as well. "I'll admit, you fascinate me as well. It's like I can see there's more to you underneath the proper gentleman act even more than I've seen now and I just want to peel it all back now to see who you are." Cece rambled a bit before clamping her mouth shut realizing what she just said. Kyoya only chuckled.

"So you're saying that I'm a present you want to unwrap?" He said with a hint of seductiveness to his voice. Cece's head swung around, wide eyed.

"That's not what I meant! At least not that way!" She said emphatically. Kyoya just chuckled again.

Without realizing, they had circled back around to the hotel and Kyoya had a car waiting. He helped Cece into the back then joined her. They gave the driver the address and then they were off. Cece noticed that Kyoya had only let go of her hand to help her into the car and even now it sat still on the seat between them. She felt like she was in high school again. She thought about placing her hand next to his, but thought it's his turn to make an effort if he is up to it. She had nearly exhausted her courage reserves on her previous flirting. Although she had been impressed with how he had responded to her. She wondered just what it would be like to be married to this man. 'Lord, I pray for your blessing and guidance in this relationship!' She sent a quick prayer as she felt the car slow and she realized that she had closed her eyes. Kyoya was staring at her with something indiscernible in his eyes when she opened hers.

"I hope you weren't too bored or tired." He said with a touch of the host back in his voice. Cece only smiled and this time did brush her fingers across the top of his hand.

"I was only relaxed. Honestly, this was the most enjoyable evening I've had in a long time." Cece smiled at him. Kyoya internally relaxed as well realizing he had been concerned about her silence for nothing.

"Being silent with others doesn't bother you does it?" He asked. Cece laughed softly.

"Oh no, it definitely does bother me. However, there are certain people who I can just be quiet with and not be concerned with carrying a conversation. It seems like you have now made the top of that list." She said accepting the driver's help out of the car. Kyoya was right behind her to walk her to her door. Cece let them into the building and they walked to her front door.

"Would you like some tea before you go?" She asked opening her door.

"That would be lovely." He responded. They entered the house and Cece started her electric kettle. Kyoya perused her bookshelf in the living room. Cece had a full two shelves of sheet music. He gently pulled a few to sight read what he could. They varied on complexity. Some he could tell were for teaching purposes or were from her own learning days, others he could tell by the notes on the pages that they were deceptively simple and were performance pieces. Less notes only meant that each touch of the keys had to be precise, planned, and carry the melody forward. He could see her attention to detail that went into preparing each piece just by the notes and highlighting and extra notation in the margins of the music.

"I always liked finding modern pieces that fit my style because they didn't require memorization in the professional world. Many pianists memorize the more theoretically classical pieces as I did, but the more atonal pieces were nearly impossible to memorize in the amount of time a professional pianist has to prepare new pieces." She spoke assuming Kyoya understood the basics of music theory which his time with Tamaki and his own violin lessons had given him thankfully.

"I can imagine some of these would be exceptionally difficult to memorize without having a melody and chord structure to follow." He said reading one of her more atonal pieces. There weren't nearly as many notes in the margins however. She moved closer to him, gently pulling his arm down so she could see. He moved the pages so she could read it as well. He also noticed the scent she was wearing. A floral iris with a deeper undertone of vanilla that seemed to fit her so well. He then smelled the bergamot of the earl grey she loved. Cece was oblivious to his thoughts.

"Oh, I remember trying this one. No one had a recording of it yet and sometimes especially with the modern pieces, I need to listen as well as read to fully understand a piece. It's much easier to listen to multiple interpretations, but on a difficult piece, I'll take what I can get." She said. She finally glanced up at Kyoya and realized he was very silent. "The tea is nearly done steeping." She said and went back to finish it. Kyoya shook himself mentally and replaced the sheet music. He took a seat in her living room.

"Do you miss performing?" He asked conversationally, however he was truly curious and slightly concerned about how she was adapting to the change. Cece let a sugar cube plunk into her cup and thought as she stirred.

"The performing itself, not as much. The dressing up was fun with the formal wear, however it was also a huge hassle to manage and travel with. Performing in those grand concert halls was never my favorite, however it gave me the exposure to book the private concerts and functions that I truly loved to play. I got to cater my repertoire to the hosts and the event and that planning and helping them make their event the best it could be was truly what I loved. I do miss that. I miss playing." She finished quietly. "It was such a large part of my life and it was an escape for me. It was my comfort. And then it was gone." Cece shrugged. "I've had to learn to live without it. Teaching the love of music that I have to others does help as well. Especially the more advanced students. I can help them perfect the details, but most importantly I like to help them find their sound." She said. Kyoya looked at her curiously.

"What do you mean by "their sound"? Isn't every piece meant to be played the same way?" He asked. The corner of Cece's mouth quirked at him.

"To some extent yes. But there's things not written on the pages. You saw my scribbles. Only after much practice and experience can a person hear the differences and hear the details between the notes. There's so many subtle things that make each persons performance unique from another's. After awhile, you can tell the difference between different performers even if it's the same piece. It's the same concept as telling two bands apart, you just have to listen for much more subtle and minute details in their playing." Cece explained excitedly. Kyoya nodded in understanding.

They continued talking as they finished their tea. Finally Kyoya stood. "I've taken up enough of your evening. I'll leave you now." Cece stood and followed him to the door.

"Thank you for everything this evening. Like I said before, it really was the most enjoyable evening I've had in some time." She said with a smile. Kyoya smirked back at her.

"Even with the teasing you found it enjoyable?" He asked her. She just laughed which made his smirk widen into almost a smile.

"Yes, even with the teasing it was very enjoyable." Cece looked up at him with a smile still on her face. Kyoya brushed a strand of hair from her face and drug a fingertip down her cheek and along her jawline. He reached down and grasped one of her hands and brought it to his lips. He placed a long kiss on her knuckles.

"Thank you for agreeing to this evening and this arrangement." He didn't let go of her hand as he straightened. "Every time we meet I find myself increasingly thankful that it's you that I'm engaged to." Cece was blushing yet again and internally cursing her fair skin since she could feel the heat in her cheeks. Kyoya leaned in and brushed a feather light kiss on the blush on her cheeks which only made it deepen. His glasses glinted in the light as he righted himself before he could attempt anything further. They had agreed to not push things nor let them go to far before they were married. He wouldn't be the one to dishonor that agreement. He gave her fingers one last squeeze before letting go.

"I will speak with you soon. Good night Cecelia." And then he was gone.

Cece blinked at her door momentarily and then covered her cheeks with her hands. "Those fingers of his are going to be the death of me…"