A heavy perfume hung in the air as our steps took us inside the walled garden that boasted every shade of rose you could imagine. Some had a second color tinting the edges of their petals, and some of the blooms were as big as my hand. Kyoya offered commentary now and then - which were hybrids of what, which were hardy or difficult to cultivate, even how much Vitamin C was in a rose petal (more than you'd think, apparently, but then I wouldn't think there was any).
"How do you know all this?" I finally asked in disbelief.
He shrugged. "I read a lot, and I have a nearly photographic memory."
"Really?"
"Of course. I've also been subjected to hours of listening to my parents' guests prattle on about their gardening exploits." He stopped to bend over a lavender rose, inhaling its scent as he cupped it in one elegant hand like a suitor. With his long lashes sweeping his cheekbones and his dark locks falling piecemeal over his temple, I couldn't help admiring the picture.
Tearing my eyes away guiltily I said, "I've never seen anything like this, Kyoya. It's amazing."
"I'm glad you like it." We strolled through the exit and along a tree-lined path. Between limbs I spotted some type of tall metal structure ahead.
The path opened up onto small plaza. The butterfly house was on one side and a giant ferris wheel sat on the other. I was delighted. "I've always wanted to go on one," I said gazing way, way up. "It must feel like you're on top of the world up there."
Kyoya followed my gaze. "Well, we haven't visited the butterfly garden yet…" My face fell. "But I can see you'd rather try this first." His smile said he would humor me.
"That's okay, Kyoya, if you want to…"
"Haruhi," he said firmly. "I'm perfectly happy to do whatever you choose. As I said, I've been here before. Let's go." My gratitude and excitement shone in my eyes, but he didn't see it as he began walking briskly toward our destination.
We stepped up to a refreshment stand that doubled as ticket booth. I reached for my purse, but Kyoya gave me a quelling look. "Two for the ferris wheel," he intoned. The bored-looking young man handed over the passes.
As we approached the metal entry gate, my heart pumped rapidly. The structure looked really tall from here, and when it moved gusts of air blew my hair back. The only people in line were two teenage girls who began giggling and shooting admiring looks over their shoulders as we approached. Alright, I already admitted he's pretty darn gorgeous, but this is just annoying. Kyoya patently ignored them and thankfully they were loaded onto the steel behemoth in no time. I watched the gigglers for a preview of what I could expect on the ride. Their continued smiling attention irked me.
I felt Kyoya's steadying hand at my back, propelling me forward as he gave our tickets to a leathery-skinned man who apparently operated the controls. He pulled a lever to spin the massive wheel again and then opened the door to the car that waited empty. I pulled myself up, sliding across one of the seats and analyzing potential handholds. Kyoya slid in beside me, looking out of place in such a childish contraption. My insides already giddy with excitement, I let out a quick laugh at his expense. It died just as quickly when the operator slammed the door shut with a resounding clunk.
I gasped as the car whisked backwards. My hands grabbed the circular rail in the center of the car as I tried to adjust to the rocking motion. I spared a glance in the direction of my seatmate. He was the picture of ease. One arm stretched across the seat back behind me, the other rested on the outside edge of the car. He was watching me, a hint of amusement crinkling the corners of his eyes. He turned his face to stare at the plaza falling away beneath us. I followed his gaze and quickly felt my anxiety melt away. I released my death grip on the handrail and relaxed back onto the bench.
We were just above the treetops when the wheel came to a halt, leaving us swinging. Kyoya turned and read my nervous expression. "He's just letting people off and on. We'll be moving again in a minute."
Oh. Right.
Female voices tittered somewhere above us. My annoyance bubbled over. "Those girls were really into you."
"I know," he said with no trace of embarrassment, seeming more interested in the scenery than the admiration. The car began to move again, but I was getting used to it now.
"How come you don't try to charm the host club girls like Tamaki does?"
"I do my part."
I raised my eyebrows, making a skeptical face. He turned in time to see it.
"Tamaki has his role to play and I have mine. Surely Renge has convinced you of that."
"I guess so."
He regarded me closely. "You think I couldn't play his part?"
I grimaced, thinking of Tamaki's over-the-top flattery and false airs.
He made a non-committal noise but my attention was arrested as we finally crested the top of the wheel's arc. "Wow," was all I could say. The landscape looked like an architect's miniature model. I could see the trails made by park paths, the courtyard with the koi pond, and a few grand houses among the sea of trees further on. The ride came to a halt so we could take in the view.
My eyes followed the horizon from one side to the other and continued their course as I turned to make a comment to Kyoya. The words died on my lips when I found him looking directly into my face, closer than expected as he leaned into the arm resting almost across my shoulders. His voice was a low rumble as he said, "So, Haruhi." He smiled mysteriously down at me. "How would you like to have your first kiss on top of the world?"
My heart started pounding, and I felt my eyes widen and my mouth drop open in shock.
"Is that a 'yes?'" he murmured, using two fingers to stroke my jawbone, closing my gaping mouth. I sat hypnotized by the compulsion in his eyes.
His head tilted down, drawing a perfect line nose to nose. Such a short distance between us. And his lips did look very inviting.
Kyoya! my mind screamed at me. This is Kyoya! But I was starting to see the real Kyoya, the one hidden behind the cool façade, who was the picture of dignity for his family but flirted with foolishness, and who saw into the hearts of our friends, and who knew all kinds of useless trivia but also knew how to manage more than just our host club. What other depths might I find there?
Kyoya? My heart asked.
His focus was on my mouth now, his lids lowered but not quite closed. Before either of us could move, the ride jerked into motion once again. His eyes lifted to mine and his face cleared by degrees. Seeming completely unruffled, he slowly pulled away and relaxed back against the seat, all traces of his former intensity erased.
"Do you think I should try that at host club?" he asked.
What? No, no, no…he better not mean what I think he means.
A scowl crept over my face. "You…That was an act?!" He shot me an enigmatic smile, still relaxed and looking a little triumphant.
Omigosh, I am going to kill him. "Can I get out now?" I grumbled, keeping my eyes on the scenery. He barked a hearty laugh, pointedly eyeing the significant distance to the ground.
As my gaze scanned the horizon once again, I noticed a column of dark clouds massing in the west. Unease skittered up my spine.
Serious once again, he asked, "What is it, Haruhi?"
My eyes remained glued to the sky. "I-I…just wonder if those are storm clouds?"
"They're still a good distance," he soothed. "We'll leave right away just in case though."
A freshening breeze blew my hair about as we descended. I was no longer aware of Kyoya, my anxious attention fixed on those clouds. God, it's me again. If you could please send those clouds somewhere else, I would really appreciate it.
"Here we are," Kyoya broke into my prayer. I noticed the car was sweeping over a few tall weeds and finally the wheel halted. The operator took his sweet time sauntering over to unlatch the door. Kyoya's long legs stepped easily to the ground. He offered me a hand as I tried to do the same. I was still a little ticked at him but accepted the help.
The sun, though sinking in the late afternoon, still shone over the little plaza where several tourists happily browsed. This settled my nerves enough to enjoy the walk back, as we followed another green sign to a path that led toward the entrance.
"I guess I'll have to come back and see that butterfly house some other time," I said.
"It's quite something," he began, and obliged me by describing it. I was pretty sure he was trying to distract me from my worry, but with Kyoya you never know.
A cool breeze was followed by a rumble of thunder, and my tennis shoes moved faster down the forested path. My mind flashed back to the last time I was in a forest and heard thunder. A shudder shook my frame.
Kyoya kept his pace to mine, but I sensed his urgency as well. As we rounded the koi pond, the sun disappeared. I barely noticed the beautiful flowers. My mind focused only on reaching the car. What would happen after that I wasn't sure, I just knew I needed to get out of here.