The mood was unsurprisingly solemn after the cousins' respective announcements, the hosts sitting quietly while the tide rolled back and forth, tracing its whispering length across the golden sand. From her spot against Honey's shoulder Haruhi looked at her friends through half-lidded eyes. She noticed, to her confusion, that they were all regarding her, their gazes warm with concern, and she couldn't figure out why. Just as she was about to ask, however, it dawned on her.
All of them, each and every one of her boys, grew up with the knowledge that they would be expected in one way or another to follow their family lines, to do that which they were raised to do. The understood that, upon graduation, though they may keep in touch, the closeness they'd all shared for so long would fracture – by time, by distance, by responsibility. They were all watching her because of the entire group she was the only one who might be surprised by any of this. She had to admit it was a concept she had never really even thought about – the idea that, year by year, the Host Club would just...splinter. Sure, she had no doubt that there would be other hosts rising to fill in the spaces left by the ones that would leave, but this, the original group, would eventually go their separate ways, riding the currents of adult life, wherever those currents might take them.
As all of this began to truly register with her for the first time, she noticed that everyone seemed almost...expectant, as though they were waiting solely for her reaction. She didn't even know herself what that reaction should be, would be. She felt as though she should probably say something, but she didn't quite know what. And so, tied up in her thoughts and all of the new realizations that until this moment were abstract concepts in the back of her mind, Haruhi did what she did best. She locked the emotional components away to be sifted and considered later and viewed the entire situation logically.
"I...well, it does make a lot of sense. I mean, when you think about it, going overseas for schooling is fairly standard practice all over the world. And with the two of you heading in different directions, not only will it serve to diversify your family's interests, but your own experiences and education will benefit from the variety as well." She sat up, meeting Honey's eyes first, then Mori's, and she saw what looked a little bit like pride in their return gazes.
"That's our tanuki," the twins said fondly. With their playful tone the somber air that blanketed the group began t dispel. It did not, however, completely disappear. Honey's question still hung over them, and with five of them that hadn't spoken up yet all of the hosts could feel the remaining answers waiting on their voices to reveal those truths that had, until now, hidden silently within.
He was relaxing with a book for the first time in a long time, sighing with contentment as he settled into the couch and stretched his legs out on the cushions. Haruhi would be coming home later in the evening, and he could hardly wait to find out how her vacation went. He hoped it was relaxing and fun; his little girl needed so much more than he could give her right now – hope, entertainment, things that would not exactly make her forget the negative thoughts and facts that swirled around her, but rather that would remind her of all of the good things her life had to offer, things she would be able to look forward to with excitement and not sadness. He idly turned a page in his book, letting his mind skim the words while still musing over his own thoughts. Happy in the quiet atmosphere of the apartment, he dropped his book, startled, when a knock sounded at the door.
Who on earth can that be? he wondered as he stood up from the couch, smoothing out any wrinkles in his clothing with a reflexive gesture. Curious, he walked over and opened the door, only to stand and stare in confusion at the suit-clad man on the walkway.
"Can I help you?" he asked cautiously.
"Fujioka Ryoji?" the stranger inquired courteously.
"I am he."
"Ootori Yoshi would like to speak with you. Is this an acceptable time?"
Kyoya-kun's father? Ranka thought quickly. Something may have happened with the kids! He was worried, but some instinct told him to keep himself calm and collected.
"Certainly," the okama said easily, his even tone disguising his worry. "Is he present?"
"You have been extended an invitation to join him at the Ootori main estate. We are parked below. We shall await your convenience." With that the black-clad man bowed before turning to descend the steps, coming to a halt beside a large black car.
Well, you'd better get ready – you don't want them to wait too long, especially if something may have happened to Haruhi or one of the boys. Thinking quickly, Ranka closed the door and darted into his bedroom, flinging the closet open and digging through his wardrobe choices. Having heard about the Ootori patriarch from his daughter, he decided to forgo the feminine clothing and makeup in favor of a crisp, smart suit and a respectable ponytail. A man close-minded enough to strike his own child – in public, no less – and powerful enough to get away with it was not likely to be accepting of a transvestite bar manager. He might, however, be more inclined to deal with a concerned father.
These thoughts and a myriad others fought for space inside Ranka's mind as he headed out the door to the car waiting below.
"So, who's next?" Honey asked, his voice quiet but audible. "Remember, if no one wants to say anything, they don't have to."
Kyoya sat silently, watching the others. Do I speak? he asked himself once again. The vacation thus far had been remarkably peaceful and enjoyable, but he knew that the mood could change severely. Even if Haruhi kept her secret to herself, if he were to voice his own it could have severe repercussions on the close dynamic the seven of them had built over the last few days.
"I, um...I haven't even told Kaoru this yet..."
Heads snapped towards the older twin and Kyoya noticed a peculiar shimmer in his topaz eyes, a sheen of tears he refused to release.
"Hikaru?" his brother asked, voice full of confusion. Hikaru turned to Kaoru, reaching out to place a hand on his cheek.
"I was offered a chance to join a five week study hosted by the Royal Society of Chemistry."
"Oh my god, that's wonderful, Hika! Will we be going to England?"
"Well, yes – the study will be completely arranged and hosted by Burlington House. But Kao...it's during Mom's two month exhibition tour in France this summer."
"But that's when we're announcing our line...oh..." The truth of the timing discrepancy hit the younger Hitachiin then, and hit him hard. Kyoya watched Kaoru's amber eyes fill with not only understanding but tears. He watched as the redhead took several deep breaths and swallowed hard, forcing a happy expression onto his face.
"That's okay, Hika," he said shakily. "You'll be there for at least some of it, right?"
"Yeah – the first week I'll be there, and the last ten days too."
"Well, as long as we...start and end together, I guess..." Kaoru said softly. In perfect synchronicity they leaned into each others' arms, Kaoru tucking his head under his brother's chin. Kyoya found himself experiencing a remarkable degree of sympathy for the two, separate halves of the same whole that had never been divided before.
"You're introducing your own clothing line?" Haruhi's curiosity was, Kyoya noticed, both wholly genuine and impeccably timed, and he was very impressed by how easily she had known what to say and when to say it to dismiss the melancholy mood the ginger devils had fallen into.
Then again, she is closer to them than she is to the rest of us, with the possible exception of Honey-senpai, he thought. Inwardly he applauded the female host. Outwardly he was paying attention to the twins as they spoke.
"We've been working on a set of our own designs," they said in their typical simul-speak. Inspired by early-1900s European fashion, but the colors and fabrics we used are far more modern and the accessories are very industrial-retro."
"Really?" she asked, and though it was obvious she only had a slight grasp of the concepts they bandied about with such ease, it was equally apparent that her interest was more than polite lip service.
It's important to them, Kyoya realized, so it has become important to her. It seems our girl is finally learning that there is more to them – perhaps more to us all? - than she previously knew.
"Yeah." Hikaru was elaborating. "Imagine those slender-lined dresses you see, the ones that have the full, sometimes slightly ruffled bodice but trace down into a narrow-waisted floor length skirt – you know what? Hold on a sec..." He pulled his cellphone from his pocket and scrolled through photos until he found the one he was looking for. Rising quickly, he moved across the circle to crouch down in front if her, handing the phone over. "This right here," he said as she took a look at the picture.
"Okay, I've seen these in older movies and such," she said with a nod. Hikaru then began to flip through some more pictures while Kaoru spoke.
"High fashion in that era was primarily silk or fine-combed wool," the younger twin said. "Either one could be colored fairly easily, and they were very popular with clothiers and buyers alike." By this point Hikaru had found the picture he was looking for and handed his phone back to Haruhi while seamlessly continuing the explanation.
"The womens' clothing of the early 1900s was incredibly graceful in the way it made use of slim lines and soft curves. Kaoru and I began to wonder what those styles would look like made out of, say, latex, denim – even Tyvek."
"Tyvek?" Haruhi asked, handing the phone back again.
"It's a material that's become rather popular fairly quickly, especially amongst the outdoor-type people, because it's both highly water resistant yet still very breathable," Kaoru explained.
"So we played around with materials and styles and came up with an entirely new breed of clothing; old fashion merged with new fabrics in simple ways that nonetheless look very elaborate. Then Kaoru came up with the idea to accessorize with retro-industrial stuff – things like fine braided copper or silver wire on hemlines as accents, metal buckles and buttons made from moving parts of old machinery, that kind of thing." Hikaru put his phone back in his pocket and returned to his brother's side.
"Preliminary feedback so far is awesome, very much favorable," Kaoru said with pride. "And so this summer we get to debut the whole line as a concept set."
"We're essentially running side-by-side with our mother's latest line, an eight week tour starting in Paris and showing through France as well as Italy."
"That is amazing, you guys," Haruhi said sincerely. To Kyoya's amusement both twins seemed somewhat embarrassed by her honest praise. Murmuring their thanks, they leaned against each other once more, far more relaxed than they had been previously. He knew their sorrow at their separation had not been forgotten, but with Haruhi's help and questions they were able to set their sadness aside and focus on the things that made them happy instead.
I wonder if she'll ever realize just how important, how necessary she is for them? After a moment, he sighed inwardly. How necessary she is for all of us?
Somehow he doubted it.
Author's note: So I've been asked if this story follows the anime ending or the manga one. And my honest response to that is...both. And neither. I'm pulling what elements I feel like from whichever version of OHSHC that fits my scenes best. That's what I love about AU stories...they are utterly, completely flexible.
This is my baby, and I'll let it dance to whatever tune it wants to. It's more fun that way! :)