The breeze was brisk off the ocean, smelling of brine and seaweed. It blew Megumi's hair into her face as she stepped out on the patio. Grimacing, she fished an elastic out of her pocket and tied her hair back before taking in the view. The ocean stretched out before her, waves rolling gently onto the shoreline that lay just a short walk from the house. The sun was low in the sky. It's perfect, she thought. Someday I want to have a place like this.
"This abuts my parents' estate, so we effectively have triple the private beachfront we would have had elsewhere on the island," Ootori drawled from his seat at the patio table. He was typing rapidly on his laptop and hadn't bothered to look up.
Megumi turned, a bit chagrined to have forgotten her manners. "I'm sorry, Ootori-san; I didn't mean to disturb you. Is there anything I can help with?"
"Unless you can figure out a way to alter basic physics and make the coals heat faster, I'd say no," he responded, still absorbed in the screen. "
"I'm sorry, I didn't mean to disturb you," she apologized. "I can leave you alone."
"No, that's all right." He shut the laptop and stretched his arms over his head before getting up and crossing to the grill. "I'm not such a terrible host that I'd chase you away from this view. Particularly not back into the house with the talkative trio in there. I'm assuming Kaoru is still asleep?"
Megumi nodded. Kaoru had opted for a bath and a nap shortly after arriving, and although Laney, Hikaru and Shapiro had initially tried to involve her in conversation, they eventually had gotten around to trading stories of common acquaintances in the States. After a while, Megumi had gotten tired of smiling and nodding, trying to pretend she was interested, and had instead volunteered to help Ootori set up the grill. He had disappeared outside with his laptop about two minutes after Kaoru left the room.
"Just as well," Ootori said. "There's something I've been meaning to discuss with you." He fiddled with the coals, turning them over and heaping them back up into a pile. "Both Kaoru and my wife have informed me that I was very much in the wrong regarding our conversation a few weeks ago. I believe the actual term Laney used was epic asshole. Kaoru also let me know that my actions were unnecessary in addition to rude. So. I hope you weren't offended."
Megumi had leaned back against the fence during this explanation, and was now gazing at Ootori in frank admiration. "You know what the fascinating thing is?"
"Do tell."
"You didn't actually apologize."
"Would you like me to?"
Taking a page from his book, she answered his question with one of her own. "Do you think you should?"
He turned to face her, barbeque tongs still in hand. "Do I think I should? Interesting question. Let's examine it, shall we?"
By this point, Megumi was fairly certain she was starting to recognize Ootori's quixotic sense of humor coming into play. "By all means."
"Did I say anything to upset you during that conversation?"
"Other than implying I was a money-grubbing whore, you mean?"
His eyes narrowed momentarily in appreciation of this sally. "I implied no such thing. Sadly, I have very little control over what you may have inferred. I regret if you misinterpreted my concerns for a friend's happiness."
"You directly threatened my family."
"And then, not two hours later, I also demonstrated a willingness to protect your family against the social predations of your former best friend. I rather think those two cancel each other out, don't you?"
"You directly threatened my family," she repeated. "So I'm asking again; Do you think you owe me an apology?"
"All right." He raised his tongs in a gesture of surrender. "I can admit when I'm wrong."
"Bullshit, Kyoya," Hikaru came out onto the patio, carrying two bottles of beer in one hand and a hat in the other. "You can admit when you're caught. Big difference."
"Either way. Megumi, I sincerely apologize for insulting you by implying your family would pay the price should your interest in Kaoru turn out to be pecuniary rather than romantic." He bowed slightly in her direction. "Mostly I was just curious to see your reaction," he added. "I didn't really think you were the social-climbing type."
"Our little Janitor Princess?" Hikaru gently pulled her ponytail, and Megumi stifled the urge to smack him for both the action and the nickname. "Please, Megumi has no interest in that sort of stuff. She'd prefer just to sit back and feel morally superior to us instead. Beer?" He offered one of the bottles to Ootori.
"Don't you think you should offer a drink to Megumi first? Tamaki would be so disappointed in you."
Hikaru rolled his eyes. "Honey, you want a beer? Or Jen's bringing some white wine out in a minute."
"I'll wait for the wine, thanks." Megumi debated whether she should point out that Ootori was now calling her by her given name without bothering to ask her permission or invite her to reciprocate.
"By the way, Jen brought this for you," Hikaru was saying, handing Ootori both the hat and the beer.
"Delightful." Ootori glared at the intertwined "NY" on the navy blue hat.
Megumi was taken a bit aback at the sudden display of temper. Noticing her reaction, Hikaru explained, "It's a Yankees hat. They're the New York baseball team—well, one of them—and Kyoya supports the Boston team, the Red Sox. They have a bit of a vicious rivalry."
"Jen's idea of a joke. Ha. Ha." Ootori said flatly. He looked from the hat his hand to the coals, and then back at the hat with an expression of regret. "I don't suppose I can burn it."
"How shockingly rude, Kyoya. Tamaki would be so disappointed in you," Hikaru mocked. "Also, Laney wants to know if you're ready for the meat. Logically it would seem to be the other way around, but I guess you two are kinkier than I thought."
"Neither funny nor original, Hikaru." Ootori scowled at the coals. "Still, keep it up and one of these days you are going to find a snake in your bed. Or something worse."
"I can let Laney know how much longer for the grill," Megumi began as she heard the patio door open behind her again.
"Oh, sit down and stop trying to be so helpful all the time," Hikaru said peevishly.
"Hey, that's no way to speak to my best girl," Kaoru said, his voice still rough with sleep as he slipped an arm around Megumi, craning his neck to check the grill. "Hikaru, go tell Laney the coals are ready. Kyoya, drink your beer and pretend you know how to relax. And you—" he nuzzled his nose into her hair—"sit down and stop trying to be helpful. This is supposed to be a vacation for you."
As Megumi relaxed into his side, she noticed how the other men also seemed to unwind in Kaoru's presence. It wasn't particularly surprising that he had that effect on his brother, but it was interesting to see how quickly he could defuse Ootori. He can smooth people's rough edges so effortlessly, she thought. I wonder how much of it came from living with someone as prickly as Hikaru, and how much of it is just Kaoru. It's one of the things I love best about him. She felt a tingle of apprehension, remembering the tension that still lay unspoken between them. But then he smiled easily down at her, the breeze making his hair ripple and shine in the late afternoon light. Get out of your own head for a minute, Megumi, she thought, and just enjoy yourself.
Author's Note: So this is less a chapter than part of a chapter, but lately I've been able to work in about 20 minute bursts, so I wanted to get SOMETHING up. There's really not very much left to this story at all, but time has been in ridiculously short supply. Thank you so much to everyone who has stuck with this story, and everyone who has followed and favorited and reviewed! I'd list you all, but the baby is like to roll off the bed any minute now. Just know you are so appreciated!