It hadn't lasted long at all, really – none of the hosts had the patience to wait for the younger redhead to return with Haruhi. And, as could likely be expected, it was Hikaru that broke first.

"I wonder if we should go give them a hand?" he mused, failing entirely at being nonchalant.

"I don't know," Tamaki said hesitantly. He'd understood that Kaoru had wanted time to speak with her alone, and having had the chance to talk things over with her as he had, he knew that she'd probably be disappointed in them if they came barging in. Still, they'd been gone for...a while?..and at any rate they would all need to start heading off the beach to the car shortly. The uneasiness he felt at interrupting their chat was worrisome, however. After all, she'd made it clear she didn't need his protection. They'd discussed his hovering. He'd agreed to try to not be so clingy with her. And it wasn't like he had to protect her from Kaoru, anyway...was it?

By the time Tamaki had muddled through his internal debate Hikaru had somehow convinced the others that it was a good idea to go offer their assistance to Haruhi and Kaoru, and one by one they were all standing up to head inland. Shrugging, he stood and joined them, casually catching up with Kyoya who was – as usual – walking slightly behind the cavalcade, a speculative and amused expression on his face. Silence seemed the order of the moment so Tamaki bit his tongue, regardless of how badly he wanted to say...well, something.

Perhaps it's better that I don't talk if I don't know what it is that I want to say, he thought as they walked. He tried to focus on the sound of grass and dirt beneath his feet. He'd almost succeeded when a shocked exclamation sounded nearby.

"What the hell is this?"

Hikaru's voice broke the silence that had been plaguing the Host King, startling him out of his thoughts and of course – like everyone else – he had to move closer so that he could get a look at what had so surprised the older redhead. He knew he wasn't the only one to stare in shock at the sight of their darling Haruhi crouched over a prone Kaoru, their faces close enough to kiss. His brain stopped as for the first time he was truly given a glimpse of the young woman before him as a sensual creature. Oh, he'd known she was beautiful, that he would give all that he was for the chance to be with her, to make love to her, if only for one night. But it had always been an emotional hodgepodge of idle desires, a melange of impressions without actual physical knowledge or sensations to draw from. Now, however, seeing her like this, so intimately pressed against the reclining redhead, both of them looking up, their lips parted with shock and their soft breaths...Tamaki was not surprised at the jealousy that filled him. It was almost an expected reaction at this point. What did throw him completely for a loop was the flood of pure lust that slammed into him with the force of a wrecking ball, the sheer and overwhelming power of it washing away any possessiveness he might have felt. Suddenly he was overcome by the raging desire to see them close those scant few inches, witness the moment that their lips met, that their eyes fluttered shut, their hands -

With a gasp he pulled himself frantically out of his Mind Theater and back to reality, shoving the unexpected voyeuristic fantasies to the back of his thoughts with an absurd amount of difficulty while he tried to regain his mental footing in the here-and-now. Beside him he saw Kyoya shoot him a brief sideways glance, eyebrows raised, but he just shook his head. He'd explain thing alter...as soon as he figured out how to. Apparently his gasp broke everyone's paralysis. In a flash the female host was on her feet, shakily gaining her balance in the soft and shifting sand, Kaoru springing up beside her with scarcely more grace.

"It's not what it looked like -"
"Oh god, it's really not -"
"We were just packing up and -"
"He was putting my socks -"
"And then she tripped and -"

As the two flustered hosts stood there, red-faced and tripping over their own words as well as each others, Tamaki felt a tightness in his chest. It built and grew until he couldn't hold it back any longer.

In the next moment all eyes flashed to him when everyone turned to watch their fearless leader slide gracefully to the ground, overcome with laughter.

Honey was confused, as they all were, by Tamaki's sudden burst of apparently uncontrollable mirth. From his position at the far side of the group the oldest host had a clear view of everyone's faces and he had to admit that he wanted to laugh as well when he saw Kyoya's dumbfounded expression in the split second before the Ootori boy schooled himself to blandness once more. Haruhi and Kaoru, too, were funny to watch, having gone from stammered, embarrassed apologies and explanations to complete confusion as they regarded the giggling French boy. Hikaru blinked repeatedly, just staring at the blond on the ground in absolute puzzlement.

"I...I'm sor-sorry," Tamaki gasped, quite obviously trying to pull himself together – an enterprise he was meeting with less-than-optimal success. "I just – you two – and the look on your faces..." He pulled himself to his feet, shoulders still shaking slightly as he struggled to take deep, calming breaths. Honey suppressed his own giggle but couldn't hide the smile that overcame him. In all honesty, it was really funny. Haruhi and Kaoru looked so much like little kids who had gotten caught with their hands in the cookie jar before dinner. Any jealousy he felt was easily ignored in favor of appreciating the humor of the moment. He let out a small snort of laughter.

"Tama-chan's right. You two look so guilty," he said in his most innocent voice, unable to curb his natural inclination to play. "Did we interrupt anything?"

"Wha-no!" Haruhi exclaimed, followed immediately by the younger redhead's falsely indignant voice.

"It wasn't like that!" Kaoru insisted, very obviously trying to remain nonchalant.

"Sure it wasn't." Hikaru smirked at his brother as well as at their girl. "That's why you're wearing the same expression that you did the day Mom caught you trying on her black glitter lace corset."

"What?" The word exploded from Haruhi's mouth on an outbound laugh, her eyes wide and surprised as she stared at the rapidly blushing twin at her side.

"Hikaru!" Kaoru yelped just as quickly, golden eyes slamming rapidly between the now-smiling female and his own wickedly grinning brother. "You – I – it wasn't – Mom said – I was eleven!" he finished in a tone that was equal parts whine, anger, and disbelief. "And you said you'd never tell anyone!"

"These aren't just anyone," Hikaru said easily. "These are our friends. And I think they'd get a kick out of the story. Maybe I'll have to tell it from the beginning..."

"But...but..."

"Aww, come on, Kao-chan," Honey chimed in guilelessly. "I bet you look adorable in lace. I wish we could have seen it."

Just like that, the subject was changed from the potentially awkward situation they'd stumbled across into the familiar embrace of playful teasing. There followed a bunch of good-natured ribbing, which Kaoru took with a modicum of grace and an armful of mock frustration. Honey thought that the redhead was probably just happy to have the subject changed from the rather compromising position he and Haruhi had been caught in, even if the subject switch did come at his own expense.

While everyone was thus distracted, the shortest host casually reached down to pick up the box that had somehow gone unnoticed by the group. Haruhi saw him crouch and stand, and her eyes widened when she realized what it was that he had just picked up. He shot her a quick, reassuring smile before walking over to where her bags were sitting against the nearby tree. With a single slick movement he slipped the box of prophylactics into her open duffel and zipped it up, knowing he'd done it quickly enough to escape even the constant observation of their Shadow King. Haruhi's eyes filled with gratitude and he nodded in return. Stepping over to the group, her bags in hand, he interrupted what was gearing up to be a boisterous round of brotherly one-upmanship between the playfully bickering Hitachiin duo.

"Well, we should probably start heading back," he interjected easily. "It's almost time to go meet the car."

Good-natured grumbling met his statement but everyone knew he was right. As they began to file out of the clearing, led by the still-sniping twins (and without a word being said about the remainder of Haruhi's camping gear; Honey knew then that their girl was slowly beginning to accept how the game really worked and he smiled inwardly) he hung back a little, allowing Tamaki, Kyoya, and Mori to walk ahead of him. Haruhi stepped up to walk at his side and they journeyed in silence for a moment, just enjoying the company. After a moment he heard her soft murmur.

"Thanks, for...well, for that," she said, attempting to hide a blush as she gestured at her bag. He leaned over as they walked and nudged her arm with his own, laughing quietly.

"Of course. You don't need to worry, Haru-chan. I've got your back."

She stopped in her tracks, her abrupt halt causing him to pause as well. Fixing her soft brown eyes on his, the warmth in her expression poured over him like heated honey, and he didn't realize he was holding his breath as she reached up to place her fingers against his cheek, their touch like the softest of butterfly kisses. He struggled to hide the way he shivered at her action, his breath catching in his throat as he fought the urge to draw her to him.

"I know," she whispered. Those two words were all it took to communicate everything. And in that second, that frame of time that existed only between the two of them, Haninozuka Mitsukuni truly understood the dichotomy of feeling like a thoroughly humbled god.

Shortly after, she began walking again and his breathing resumed. They headed through the trees, easily catching up with their friends – the whole exchange had taken only seconds. But even though the moment was brief, barely a drop in the bucket of time, he knew that it had burned that feeling into his soul forever.

Author's note: So it's been weeks. I do apologize. Tucson Con is right around the corner...time seems to sneak up when you're not watching. I swear by all the gods it was June yesterday. I barely remember July as a separate month. Life is nuts sometimes. But I haven't forgotten, and I haven't abandoned - not the story, and not you all, Faithful Readers. :)

With the upcoming Con, once more I have crocheting to do, and lately due to the need for me to help with the opening of a new store, I've been bumped back up to 40+ hours a week at work. Add in the fact that I've finally gone back to my old exercise patterns...you know, if someone could figure out how to give me a few more hours in a day, I'd be grateful forever. I don't need many...only three, maybe four extra per day. Anyone? No one? Awww. Sad face. Oh well...guess I'll work with what I have. Who needs sleep anyway? Sleep is for pussies.

Um...yeah. Uh, anyway, so...enjoy the chapter, 'kay? :)