Mix #9: Approval or Not

"Ugh, what do you wanna do?"

"I don't know what do you wanna do?"

"How many times have we counted the tiles on the ceiling?"

"Two hundred and seventy five times."

Two pairs of legs dangled aimlessly off the end of the large bed in the second Suou estate. The occupants were two teens who were staring up at the ceiling and made it a game of how many tiles were gracing the high ceiling above them. It became boring after the tiles started to meld together to almost create a stack of blocks that could drop on them if they did not move from their spots.

"Hey, do you wanna go out to the arcade and play Uki Doki Memorial Fighters?" Tamaki asked rolling over on his side; he propped his elbow up and rested his chin in his palm. "They may have put in another version."

"As if that's possible," Sally sighed resting her hands atop her stomach and continued staring at the ceiling. "How about we go to the movie theatre and go see Twilight to laugh at the people having fangasms over that fairy Edward Cullen?"

"We've done that ten times already; it gets stale after the first five times." Tamaki shuddered at the thought of seeing the movie again. "Want to go to the overpass and chuck eggs down at cars that pass by?"

Sally raised an eyebrow. "When did we ever do that?"

"We've never done that."

"Then no we're not going to be arrested for causing accidents, " Sally sat up, stretched and laid back down on her side to face Tamaki. "We could always play Just Dance again?"

"Sally we've played every single version that I have," Tamaki's face took on a thoughtful look; he quickly rolled out of the bed and walked towards his closet. "Hey, have you ever played Operation?"

"Uh yeah," Sally snickered. "We did that this morning when I came over. So put that game away."

"I give up! We have nothing to do!" Tamaki threw the game back into his closet. "Why don't we just spend the day being bored? We'll die!"

Sally rolled her eyes. "Dude, we could always have some fun by playing a favorite past time." A twisted look appeared on her face. "You did say your dad owned a plethora of sports cars right?"

"Yeah but why do you want to know about that?" Tamaki asked raising an eyebrow. "I don't have my license and neither do you."

"I know but what's the harm in driving it around the neighborhood? You know to see how the other half lives?" Sally smiled softly. "And I did promise you that I'd teach you how to ghost ride the whip."

"Sally no, I don't think that's a good idea." Tamaki shook his head. "How about we err…watch television?"

"Fine, fine I like that idea better." Sally sat up on the bed and looked around the remote. "So what are we going to watch?"

"Let's watch some Samurai movies." Tamaki wanted to tell Sally about his life but he rather wait until they had a good time to be alone rather than worrying so much about what to do to kill time. After all things, wouldn't change would it?

The movie ended and the sound of the DVD menu's idle music was the only thing filling the room as the two teens who had been watching the movie had fallen asleep during the climax of the film. Their breathing was almost in harmony with one another and the room filled with peace rather than chaos. The world around them seemed to freeze almost as if someone had hit the pause button on the preverbal remote control of life.

Sally rolled over as he hand came to rest upon Tamaki's chest and she snuggled more into his embrace. She could hear his heart beating slowly rather than the intense pounding that spoke of her own.

Tamaki's arms came to wrap around Sally's waist and he pulled her close to his body. He could smell the scent of her hair and the warmth that spoke of her body next to his. He had not ever thought that in a million years, he would be holding someone so close and did not run away. Rather this moment seemed beautiful and peaceful. He did not want it to end.

"Tamaki, I found ninjas today! Honest!"

The door flew open and Yuzuru stood in the doorway. His face a light with cheerfulness and he was holding a camera. His expression changed when he saw Tamaki lying in bed holding Sally close. He blinked a few times and surveyed the situation.

"Tamaki wake up!"

Tamaki was jolted awake at the sound and he sat up rather quickly but looked over to check on Sally. When he saw she was still asleep he looked at the door. "Shh, dad don't be so loud." He put a finger to his lips and made a shushing sound. "Sally's still sleeping."

"I see she is…" Yuzuru immediately concluded that the two teens had done more than they were letting on. "Please come outside for a second Tamaki."

"Sure," Tamaki got up from the bed and put a blanket over Sally as he walked out of the room. "Yes dad?"

"Tamaki, I do hope you bothered to use protection with Miss Moore." Yuzuru decided to cut to the chase. "And next time you should lock your door or put a tie on the door to let people know you are busy with her."

"What are you talking about dad?" Tamaki stared incredulously at his father. "I did nothing of the sort with Sally. We watched a movie and we both fell asleep. I did not use that as a way to take advantage of her!"

"So you two were only sleeping?" Yuzuru asked. "Tamaki, you're in love aren't you?"

"Yes, I really feel a lot for Sally and …I don't know why but I think she will understand me more if I tell her of my situation."

"Tamaki, I don't think it's wise to do that," Yuzuru said quietly. "Your grandmother won't approve of her."

"I don't care what grandmother thinks anymore," Tamaki whispered. "I want to live my life the way I want…if she doesn't like me then that's fine but I cannot just go through life jumping through hoops to please her."

At those words, Tamaki went back into his room and shut the door not caring of how much trouble he would be in later. He sat back on the bed, pulled Sally into his arms, and held her close. His hands ran through her hair as he watched her peaceful face. There was something about Sally that he could not leave alone; she was almost as if fate brought her to him to bring the best out in him.

"Mmn…more ketchup on my fries please…" Sally mumbled and curled up more against Tamaki. She slowly opened her eyes and reality came crashing back. She was not swimming in a pool full of French fries as someone poured ketchup from the diving board. She was sitting in Tamaki's bedroom and lying in his arms. "Dude did we fall asleep?"

"Yeah,"

"And you woke up before me and watched me like some creeper?"

"No no I was asleep too but my dad came in and woke me up and…well…I…I…"

"I am just messing with you," Sally leaned against his shoulder and smiled. "I feel so relaxed here and your bed is like sleeping on a cloud. I seriously should consider sleeping over tonight."

"Sally…"

"I am kidding; I doubt your household staff would have the means to feed me." Sally snickered and stood up. "Feed Tamaki, feed me all night long!"

Tamaki chuckled. "Ok, how about you do stay over?" he asked. "It'd be fun to have a slumber party."

"All right, I just need to go home to get something unless there is something that I can borrow to sleep in," Sally got up from the bed and went to Tamaki's closet. She began looking through the rows upon rows of shirts and finally settled on a large T-Shirt with Kuma-chan on the front. "I'll sleep in this if you don't mind."

"All right," Tamaki shook his head and looked away as Sally had took off her clothes to change. He often wondered how she was so comfortable changing in front of him. He took in a few deep breaths and watched as the shirt fit over Sally's frame perfectly, the hem stopped just above her knees and it appeared to be a dress on her rather than a shirt.

"Dude, this is cute," Sally pulled her hair in two short pigtails on the sides of her head and sat down on the bed again.

"Y-You can keep it."

"Seriously, I don't want to take your shirt." Sally shook her head. "I'll sleep in it tonight and then return it to you in the morning."

"No, please keep it." Tamaki held her hands in his. "It's to remember your first slumber party with me."

"All right," As she said this Sally looked outside at the setting sun as the stars started coming out. She had to admit it was rather nice to be sleeping over at a friend's house but she really wanted to stay so to help Tamaki not feel lonely. She knew he lived alone and did not have anyone but the house staff and a dog to keep him company.

Tamaki lay back on the bed staring at the ceiling. He mentally counted the tiles on the ceiling once again not paying much attention to Sally next to him.

A silence passed between the two and for that, very second all was right in their world again. Nevertheless, for it to be broken was what the two were afraid of the most. They treasured these moments that allowed them to focus upon the task. To get to know each other a little bit more.

"Hey Sally…?"

"Hmm?"

"Do you want to hear the story of my life?"

"We're not people watching so it won't be as fun if you decide to roast yourself with a bogus story." Sally turned over on her side to look at him. Her gaze traced up his long frame from his beautiful face to the ends of his knees hanging off the bed.

"No, the honest truth," Tamaki rolled over to his side and reached out a hand to place on Sally's cheek. "I want to tell you everything about me."

"You want to tell me…"

"Do you trust me?"

"What?"

"Do you trust me?"

"Y-yes."

Tamaki smiled and felt at ease as he finally closed his eyes. "I did not come from a traditional family, in a sense my birth was viewed as a mistake. My father and mother met in France and fell madly in love with each other." He sucked in a breath hoping to make it through the story without breaking down. "For a long time my father tried to bring us to Japan but my grandmother didn't want that to happen. So she forbade my dad from even thinking of doing so."

"That's awful…"

"But, I lived a happy life in France with my mother. She was not well all the time but whenever she was, I always had fun. She taught me how to play piano and I used to spend all of my time with her. I never once wanted to go outside to play as I worried about my mom and I wanted to please her most by staying with her. I know that it is the reason why I am set on making people happy. "

Tamaki noticed Sally had moved closer to him. "Anyway, when I turned fourteen my grandmother came to my mother and asked…no more like demanded that I come to Japan so the Suou family could have an heir. In a way I served as a sort of bargaining chip so my mother could live out her days in comfort." He looked away. "And ever since that day…the last time I saw my mother was before I came here to Japan."

Sally was silent unable to say anything. She digested Tamaki's story and wondered just how much pain he was in, to hide it behind a smile. To hide the loss of a parent to please a grandparent was just too awful. She wanted nothing more than to hold him and tell him everything would be ok. To make it so he could smile without it being false, she wanted to bring out the best in him. Without thinking, she wrapped her arms around his waist and rested her head against his chest. "Tamaki…I'm so sorry."

Tamaki looked down at her. "Sally you don't need to apologize."

"You've had a hard life and hid it behind a smile." Sally whispered. "To lose your mother because of some agreement is just wrong. Everyone needs their mom. If it had been me I would've said no and stayed with my mother."

"If I had done that I wouldn't have met the Host Club or you." Tamaki held Sally tighter and ran a hand through her hair. "Please do not shed a tear for me."

"I cannot help it," Sally gazed at him; her eyes locked onto his beautiful violet ones. She wanted to take the sadness and pain away. "Tamaki…I want you to continue to prove to your grandmother that she's wrong about you."

"What?"

"Tamaki, you need to continue to fight and prove that you are worthy to be a Suou." Sally's voice took on determination. "I believe in you, I believe that you can become a strong person and show your grandmother that you can win…even if it's not her approval." As Sally said this, she hugged him tighter. "I want you to be happy…truly happy. Please do this for me Tamaki."

"René…"

Sally blinked a moment. "What?"

"Please call me René... That is my real name after all."

"All right, René." Sally hugged him and cuddled into his chest. She buried her head into his shirt inhaling his scent. She was glad he had told her of his past but moreso she seemed to take notice of how relaxed he was.

Maybe getting this off his chest was sort of a cleansing experience for him. She smiled more and closed her eyes. "René…"

"Hmm?"

"I will always be here for you."

Outside the bedroom in the hallway, Yuzuru was on the phone with someone. He had been outside Tamaki's door listening to everything and knew that Tamaki had chosen happiness over trying to please someone who would never approve or let go of the past.

"Anne-Sophie, I think it's time we choose happiness over approval. I will arrange a flight from France to Japan. I will see you soon my darling."

To be continued

Author Notes: We finally got a sort of admission of love. What is Yuzuru planning? What could this mean? We will have to find out in the next chapter but I welcome speculation and I hope you guys totally speculate what happens. For anyone who guesses correctly shall earn a shout out in the next chapter. Thank you so much for reading and I will see you in the next chapter!