GUYSGUYSGUYSGUYS. CHAPTER 30. Thank you headphonesinn481, happyface811, Blacksox411, animagirl, BloodLily16, Square Root of Three, d . grayman . is .awesome, Abigail12600, KayDizzle, and the four guest reviewers! You guys are amazeratelating!
DISCLAIMER: I DO NOT OWN OHSHC. I DO, HOWEVER, OWN MY OC(S) AND PLOT.
The next school day was a special brand of hell, hosted by the Ouran Host Club. Everywhere Eyrie turned, a host would magically pop up, asking questions at a breakneck speed. They all had one objective in mind.
Find out what happened on the date.
"They are around every corner!" Eyrie shifted her eyes around the powder room as she whispered harshly into the phone pressed to her ear. She heard Briar laugh on the other line. "It isn't funny! I can't go anywhere without having them 'So what happened? Where did you guys go? What did you do?' I'm going mad!"
"Serves you right!" Briar cried. Then he started pouting into the phone. "You wouldn't tell me what happened either."
"Oh don't whine!" Eyrie rolled her eyes then glanced at the clock on the wall opposite to her. "I have to go. I have to get to my next class early."
"Alright! See ya later you pompous a-" She quickly hit the end button and scurried out of the bathroom. She turned down the hallway when something slammed into her. A flurry of papers began raining down, obstructing Eyrie's view of the person she had run into. "Oh, I'm sorry! Please, let me help!"
Eyrie immediately dropped to her knees and began scooping up the papers and stacking them. A hand reached out to stop her.
"You're so troublesome."
Her eyes widened slightly and she timidly looked into the eyes of the person she knocked over. Kyoya stared back with and unfeeling gaze before picking up the remaining papers.
"You're one to talk. You ran into me." Eyrie rolled here eyes and fought a blush. They stood and dusted themselves off.
"I don't seem to remember it that way." He pushed up his glasses and glared at her. Then a bell began to toll, signaling the end of the current class.
"Hey! Where's Eyrie?"
"I don't know! Kyoya's missing too!"
"Oh! This guy says he saw them by the powder room!"
"Let's go!"
As soon as the pair heard the voices of the host club they both jolted for the nearest door. Eyrie silently slid the door closed and then turned to look around the room frantically. She barely had time to take in the empty classroom before being yanked into a storage cabinet. A hand slid over her mouth as Kyoya pulled the door shut.
"Search all the classrooms men!" Tamaki's voice rang out; he was using his king voice again.
"Those idiots don't leave a stone unturned." Kyoya breathed. He kept his hand over Eyrie's mouth and continued staring at the cabinet door, waiting for it to burst opened. Eyrie let out a muffled huff, causing Kyoya to finally face the girl.
"What was that, I-" For a moment he was distracted by the chocolate brown eyes that were mere inches from his, then he nearly flushed from embarrassment when he noticed that they were pressed tightly together with limited space around them. "Uh..."
Eyrie glared at him then laboriously freed the hand that was pinned to her side and pointed to the hand he held over her mouth.
"My apologies." He said coldly, responding to her glare with one of his own.
"I was about to lick you." She whispered then had to muffle a giggle when Kyoya's glared turned ice cold.
"We'll check in here boss!" The two in the cabinet stiffened and stared at the door. The twins' voices were closer then ever and soon they could hear a door being thrown opened. "Awww! Are they not here?"
Eyrie and Kyoya heard the twins run around the room, checking every nook and cranny. Time seemed to slow and Eyrie looked up a Kyoya with eyes filled with panic. He was staring at the glasses that were slipping off his face; he experimentally shifted his pinned down arms to see if he could get one loose long enough to fix them when, suddenly, two slender fingers gently shoved them up the bridge of his nose. As Kyoya's sight came back into focus, he saw Eyrie holding her one free hand over her mouth and staring up at him with bright eyes. He glared at her suspiciously.
"They aren't here boss!" Eyrie jumped and clutched to Kyoya, not letting go until them heard the door slam shut.
"Alright, they're gone so- What?" Kyoya tried to move out of the closet but only managed to get the door opened before he was stopped by Eyrie's arms wrapping around him. He looked down to see her staring at him with the same bright eyes as before. Before he could question her further she stretched onto her tiptoes and gave him a light kiss on the tip of his nose.
"You're cute." She giggled, smiling brightly. Kyoya sat in stunned silence as she finally eased past him and out of the closet. "So I suppose they have been cornering you all day as well?"
"Hmm? Oh, yes. They are persistent." Kyoya straightened his jacket. "Unfortunately we still have to go to club...and stop that, you look like Tamaki."
Eyrie glared at him from her emo corner, then stoop up and walked to the door with him. They heard a bell ring and realized how long they had spent in the closet.
"Is the host club going over to your place after school?" Kyoya asked casually as they made their way through the empty halls. Eyrie glanced at him.
"Not that I know of." Eyrie said with a shrug. "I'm going straight to Haruhi's after club anyway."
Kyoya's eyebrows shot up and he stared at the side of her face. "Oh?"
"I get to meet her father." Eyrie shot him a mischievous grin as they got to the classroom.
The host club ended up being better than Eyrie thought it would be. Whenever a nosy host would get within ten feet of her customers and her, Kyoya would steer them in the other direction, telling them not to bother her while she was working. When it ended she practically ran out the door to get to her car while dragging Haruhi. She barely heard Bear's surprised laughter as she dove into the backseat, Haruhi tumbling on top of her.
"Well that was eventful. Any reason you two are avoiding them?" Bear looked in his rear view mirror at the two panting teenagers. Eyrie was taking up half the seat because of her sloppy entrance and Haruhi was laying partially on top of her. They both look at each other and grinned.
"Just a bit of torture." Eyrie laughed.
"Oh good. I'm glad kids these days have such conventional pass times." Bear said, shaking his head mockingly. "So I'm taking you both to the house?"
"No. Haruhi's." They replied in unison then relaxed into the upholstery. It took a bit longer due to confusion with the directions but when they got there the apartment was empty.
"Dad is probably still at work." Haruhi said apologetically.
"Haruhiiiiii! I'm homeeeee!" The door flung opened and flattened Eyrie into the wall, causing Haruhi to go gray with horror. "What? What is it?"
"DAD-" Haruhi started. She was cut off when Eyrie slowly made her way from behind the door and walked over to Ranka.
"Nice to meet you sir. I'm Eyrie." She gave an eerie smile and held out a hand. Ranka obliviously shook it and started gushing, Haruhi still staring at her friend with a mixture of shock and horror. The horror subsided as she watched the two become fast friends.
Marie stared in shock at the boy in front of her.
"Uh, Mister Ootori...Eyrie isn't here right now?"
"Marie you can call me Kyoya. And I am here to see Briar not Eyrie." Kyoya gave a small smile as Marie tried to hide her confusion. She took him to the study and disappeared.
"You wanted to see me?" Kyoya stood and faced the door to see Briar leaning on the frame of the door.
"I have some questions I need you to answer." Briar sauntered over to sit across from him. Kyoya calmly sat down. "What are your feelings towards Eyrie?"
Briar let out a loud laugh and slumped down into his chair. "My! What's this all of a sudden?"
"Well you two seem rather close and you never really opposed the possibility of being betrothed to her." Kyoya said matter of fact. "Also, you are unusually loyal to her father. She also tells me you are actually British."
Briar sighed and rubbed a hand over his face. "Gee. Ok well yea. I am British and I hide it because when I was eighteen I was hired by some big wig to be a 'researcher'. Basically, I had to find out all the nitty gritty on politicians and such."
"So?" The boy asked with disinterest written all over his face. Briar glared at him.
"Careful boy. The only reason I'm telling you is because Eyrie won't and that would cause problems for her, judging by your agitation." Briar growled. He took a moment to compose himself before continuing. "Long story short: I got caught. My employer had to let me go and cut all ties from me. That included cutting ties with my mother who was receiving medical help from them. After a while Eyrie's dad found me. Told me that as long I did exactly as I was told, he had no problem paying for whatever my mom needed; but if I disobeyed orders..."
Kyoya's stare remained cold as Briar splayed his hands in front of him, wearing a 'what can ya do' look.
"And yet I distinctly remember hearing her father mention that you withheld certain information from him. I take it your mother is still in good health?" For a moment there was nothing but silence as Briar took on a tense, steely expression.
"She is. Since Eyrie came..." Briar momentarily broke eye contact and cleared his throat. "I've been allowed a bit more flexibility."
"I particularly enjoy how you edge around the specifics." There was a snap in Kyoya's voice that caused Briar to smirk.
"My, my. Someone seems a little...edgy." Briar propped an elbow on the arm of a chair and placed his hand on his fist. "Mister Ootori if you want the entire story front and back, all you have to do is admit it upsets you."
"Admit that what upsets me?" A chill snaked through the room and up Kyoya's back.
"That you felt the need to come to me. That you couldn't just ask Eyrie. Let me guess. You asked her before and she told you it wasn't her business?" Briar's chilly smile stretched from ear to ear as he observed Kyoya's stiff stance. Just as the tension became think enough to cut with a steak knife, Briar began laughing. "Good man! Cover all your bases! Come right to the source! That way you can weed out any lies yourself! I like you! Anyways. Backstory. That is what you want right? Ok, well-"
"Excuse me?" Kyoya's icy voice cut Briar off. "Did I miss anything Mister Dasos?"
"Not at all! But I had to put you through a little test of my own now didn't I? Had to make sure you were absolutely serious or whatever. And now that I know you are; well. We can proceed with that story telling and such!" A loony grin replaced the calculating smile that had been there just a moment ago and before Kyoya could say anything, he began telling the story.
*FLASHBACK*
"Good morning Briar. The master wants to see you in his office right away." Mister Omorfie's private secretary gave me a sultry wink and smile as she walked away. I grinned gave her a not so subtle once over as I got up from my desk. When I'm not out questioning people and searching for information, I spend my time doing paperwork at the Omorfie main house which is basically the size of a village. About a year ago there had been some sort of row concerning the Master's kid. Or kids now, I suppose. I had been in contact with Camille plenty of times but had yet to properly meet the other one. I was sent to collect her for her father but got too drunk to remember anything the next day. All I know is that she kicked the crap out of me for some inappropriate action. The maid, Marie, was saying her name was Eyrie; some said her name should be Rapunzel. As far as most of us knew, the Master hadn't let her out of her room since she arrive. Every time she was mentioned there was a severe tongue lashing for the one who brought it up. I briefly entertained thoughts of sneaking up the vines leading to her room and catching a glimpse so I could give the other servants a bit more gossip. At the moment I had to shake off those thoughts as I knock and entered the office of my employer.
"Sir? You wanted to see me?" I swallowed a cheeky grin as he turned to me with a look of annoyance.
"Yes. I have a new assignment for you. One that will take top priority...and your full attention." He gave me a pointed look as his secretary came in to place something on his desk. He went over and locked the door behind her, making sure there were no more interruptions. "Now I've recently decided to move my daughter out of this house. Not Camille. The...other one."
A look of pure disgust washed over his face and I tried to keep mine expressionless as I mentally congratulated myself on not having to climb anything. The thought that came after that though was a bit more sobering.
What type of person is she?
"You will spy on her at all times; there is no gentle word for it. I want to know her every move at all times. You will start tomorrow. It is still a couple months till the move." He briefly gave me a few details then gave me a map to her room- obviously not knowing that all the servants practically had it memorized. I was to stand watch outside her door. After a couple of hours I sat down and just as I sat a smiling Camille amerged. Her smile waned when she saw me seated outside the door.
"What are you doing here?" She asked pleasantly, a candy sweet smile gracing her lovely features.
"Just my job." I gave her a lazy grin then went back to staring at the wall in front of me. Camille paused briefly then stuck her head back in the door to whisper something. After she left, the rest of the day was uneventful. When the sun went down I began nodding off. At around one in the morning was when I was woken up. My eyes were blurry and all I managed to really catch in my half asleep state was the door of Eyrie's room closing and the briefest flash of long black hair disappearing around the corner of the hallway. I hopped up and cautiously followed it, only able to go on glimpses of disappearing hair. When I got to the hallway leading to the garden I saw the door opened. The moonlight was as bright as the sun and the stars looked like angels had spilled glitter across the sky. As I walked further into the garden I saw a small figure leaning down to smell a flower. Her hair was tumbling down her back in uncontrolled curls and she wore a black tank top and black skinny jeans, her ivory skin shining in the glow of the moonlight. When she turned her face to me her hair hid her features in shadows. I composed myself and sauntered over, my arms clasped behind my back. She continued to admire the roses and ignore me.
"Isn't sneaking out at night against the rules?" I asked casually.
"There are no rules. Only guidelines." She replied quietly. I was briefly surprised to hear how sultry and think it was for someone her age.
"Elizabeth Swan, Pirates of the Caribbean." I said automatically, later blaming on the lateness of the hour.
"Yes. Very good. Now. Your name?" She abruptly turned and began strolling through the gardens. I stumbled slightly trying to keep up with her movements.
"Briar Dasos, m'lady. If there is anything you need that fits my area of expertise"
"Well I can't imagine that happening since the current area of expertise my father has assigned to you is watching me. And as far as I know there is nothing I require to know about myself."
I slowed slightly and glared at the back of the girl in front of me. "With all due respect-"
"No, there is no respect only judgement. You assume I am saying things like that because I am a privileged rich girl who has simply fallen out of favor with Daddy. In reality, the reason I said what I did, the way I did, was because it is the truth and I didn't want you to waste your breath." The girl stopped walking and turned to face me, her entire body cloaked in shadows from the surrounding structures. "Have I offended you?"
Ignoring the question, I decided to speak while I could. "When I said 'my expertise' I was talking about what I did before your father gave you to me as an assignment. And yes. I am offended."
"My apologies. What did you do before this?" she began walking again.
"I am the head of research." I replied proudly. "Rather valuable if I do say so myself."
"Well I think not seeing as how you were giving an assignment to cancel out all other assignments. I guess someone else will get your job now."
I felt a boiling anger well up inside me and I reached out to snatch the girl's arm. "Now listen here I do my job better than anyone else could do it so-"
The words caught in my throat as I yanked her into the moonlight and the hand I held her with went limp.
"Oh really? Did you know what I looked like before this? I do seem to recall having to drag your drunk, passed out ass back to the estate." A face exactly like Camille's stared at me expressionlessly as my mouth worked like that of a fish out of water. She scoffed lightly before turning. "I could do your job better."
"Prove it!" The childish response was the only thing I could come back with as I watched her disappear back into the grand mansion.
The next morning I didn't hear a peep out of her room and was given the OK to visit my mother at the hospital. I was told someone else would take my post for the day. When I got to the hospital the nurse at the desk beamed at me.
"Good to see you Briar. My, your mother is popular today! She's probably dizzy with excitement with all the attention!" The woman laughed.
"What do you mean?" I asked.
"Well a young woman is with her now! I believe they're in the garden right now."
My face slid into a pleasant mask as I made my way down the hall to the garden. When I got there, I saw my mother sitting in a lawn chair facing me while the one opposite her was filled by someone with lustrous black curls. My lip curled in annoyance as I shoved the door opened and stomped over.
"Oh Briar, darling, you're here! Have you met this wonderful young woman? Her name is Eyrie!" My mother smiled at Eyrie and then at me. Eyrie looked up and smirked.
"I do believe that proves it." She said blandly. Before my mother could question her, Eyrie stood. "I couldn't possibly impose on your time with your son. I'll leave."
I sat there in brooding silence as my mother and the cheeky daughter of my employer said their goodbyes. After Eyrie left I had to suffer through my mum singing her praises the entire time I was there.
"You know, Mother, she really isn't that great." I said blandly, hoping to eradicate this particular topic. My mum went completely silent and stared at me thoughtfully.
"Have you even tried getting to know her?" She asked gently. My lip stopped mid-sneer as I recalled our encounter early the morning. Suddenly a hand stretched out to cover my own and I looked up into the earnest eyes of my mother. "At least try darling? For me? Now take me back to my room. I think visiting hours are over."
As soon as I stepped foot onto the mansion steps I was summoned by the Master. The maid, Marie, wrung her hands as she led me along one of the garden paths.
"You don't think Mistress Eyrie is in trouble do you?" She turned to look at me with a worried look.
"Why do you care?" I sighed. "Do you even know her?"
"Oh of course!" The maid practically beamed as she spun to face me fully. "I take her meals to her and we talk sometimes. She says I'm pretty."
Marie abruptly started walking again and I thoughtfully studied her as we went, noticing, for the first time perhaps, that she was pretty. Her features were a bit plain but her cheerful disposition seemed to shine through her pores and made her look absolutely radiant. I never would have noticed if I had just passed her in the street.
"Have you even tried getting to know her?"
I shook off my mother's echo as I walked into a clearing I didn't even know we had, evenly trimmed bushes grown in a perfect circle, the Master standing in with his back to me.
"Did we not agree that, in return for taking care of your mother, you would do anything I asked?"
I sighed as I stared at the back of my employer, too tired for his games. "Yes."
"Then why did you not watch my daughter?! Why did you not report to me as soon as she left her room?!" The Master practically barked as he swung around to face me.
"The girl only went for a midnight stroll in the garden and I was with her the whole time!" My temper rose as I tried to defend myself and I saw that his was already at its peek.
"That door is supposed to be locked from the outside." He hissed through clenched teeth. Nothing could stop the shock over taking my face and the Master gave a dark chuckle. "I suppose I should have told you that she would be a handful. Lots of tricks up those sleeves of hers. Now as for your punishment. You will move out of the estate with Eyrie, as planned, and no contact will be allowed between your mother and yourself. Furthermore, should you disobey me at all, you might find that your mother's hospital bill payment may be a little late."
My jaw hung in shocked silence as Sorpresa Omorfie exited the clearing. I struggled to process everything that had just happened when a sultry voice coated my ears.
"Don't worry about your mother's hospital bills. They will continue to be paid on time and in the correct amount."
I turned my head to see Eyrie leaning on one of the bushes near the entrance. There was too much going through my mind for me to question where she had been hiding.
"Unfortunately there is nothing I can do about the issue of contacting your mother until we are actually out of this wretched place so I suppose you'll have to bare with it for a while." She turned to go.
"Why are you doing this?" I asked hoarsely. She slowly turned on her heel to look at me.
"Not everyone is as cruel as the masters you so artfully choose for yourself; and I know how important a mother can be to her child." A brief flash of pain surfaced then was once again swallowed by the nothing expression the girl wore.
"Have you even tried getting to know her?"
"What's your favorite color?" Eyrie's brow twitched at my blurted question.
"Black. Why?"
I shrugged and began walking back towards the house. "No reason. Just thought it would be nice to get to know you- since we'll be living together and everything. Better get you back to your room. We'll continue this conversation when we get there."
Kyoya's face remained expressionless through the whole story. After a moment of silence he shifted.
"And so-?"
"'And so-?' What boy? That's it." Briar's lip curled with annoyance as Kyoya continued to stare.
"I asked before and I'll ask again- what are your feelings for Eyrie? Judging by your story I wouldn't blame you if you had a few." Kyoya pushed up his glasses.
"I love Eyrie with all my heart." Kyoya's breath caught in his throat. "She's like the sister I never had and so, if you hurt her, I will put you in the hospital."
Kyoya nearly let out a relieved laugh but stopped himself just in time. He look at the big man in front of him. "Have you talked to your mother since then?"
"Yes. But chances are few and far between." Briar smiled and shrugged. Suddenly the door flew opened.
"Briar, we aren't doing anything next weekend right? I want to have Ranka over for lunch- oh hey Kyoya." Eyrie looked at Kyoya then back at Briar, narrowing her eyes. "I won't ask this time but you are definitely telling me what happened once Kyoya leaves."
Briar held up his hands defensively at her pointed finger. Then she turned to Kyoya and linked arms with him. They began walking towards the door in unison.
"So what were you boys talking about?" Eyrie raised a brow up at Kyoya when they got to the main door.
"I was- I just had some questions." Kyoya looked away, hoping to be a bit aloof. When she was silent he finally looked down to see that her face was a lovely shade of pink and her eyes were enormous and shining.
"You are just too cute! I can't take it!" A small giggle escaped her lips as she launched her self up to wrap her arms around his neck. She briefly grinned into his eyes before pressing her lips firmly to his.
Kyoya's face turned bright red but after a moment of awkwardness, his arms wound around her waist. Part of his mind noted that her feet weren't touching the ground. His eyes slowly drifted shut like someone in pure bliss. A rush of warmth flooded him and electricity danced on his lips. The kiss deepened when Eyrie wound her slender fingers through his hair and his hands pressed into her back, trying to bring her closer. When their lips finally parted she pressed her forehead to his and they stayed like that for a moment, Kyoya continuing to hold her effortlessly in place. Then Eyrie let out a breathless giggle.
"Dangerous." She whispered against his mouth. He was tempted to close the extra nanometer between them and recapture her lips but before he had the changes she hopped down and began closing the door. "Goodnight!"
Kyoya was stunned for a moment then began floating to his car, suddenly not caring if his driver saw the dreamy look on his face.
Her lips are as sweet as I thought they would be.
I hope that was ok to end on! I AM SO SORRY FOR HOW LONG THIS TOOK. Please review! Thanks for reading!