"Oh, so you have a date?"
Blair beamed at Daphne as the two finished up washing the dishes from their dinner together. She held a plate in her hands, drying it with an already saturated hand towel before placing it in the cabinet beside her. The older woman had been harping on Daphne to have a social life outside of school so the feeling of being vindicated made a warm home in her chest. Daphne rolled her eyes.
"Is it anyone I know?" Blair pressed, "A tall blonde boy, perhaps?"
The younger woman groaned, "No, Aunt Blair, it's not Tamaki. And it's not anyone you know."
Blair's hands flew up defensively, "Sorry, ok. It's not Tamaki. Can I at least get a name for this mystery guest that's taking my young niece out of my home?"
"He's not 'taking me out of your home,' we're going to the street fair on Saturday. His name is Ritsu Kasanoda. Oh, and the twins are coming over at 9 o'clock that morning so please don't be hanging around in your bra and sweatpants."
Ignoring the command, Blair leaned against the counter. Her finger tapped against her chin in thought.
"Kasanoda… Kasanoda. Why does that name sound so familiar?" She twisted the end of her long, blonde ponytail in her first and second fingers. After a moment, Blair straightened, her face frozen in shock.
"Daphne, no. You can't date this boy."
The younger woman's face twisted in concern as she turned to face her aunt. Blair's hands shot out, each grabbing onto Daphne's shoulders like she was a life raft thrown to her in the middle of the ocean.
"Kasanoda is a crime family. Do you know how many people I've treated that have come in with a missing ring finger? That's Kasanoda's work. When people can't pay him, he sends out his henchmen to bring back one or both of the digits!"
Crossing her arms across her chest, Daphne stared at Blair.
"Really, Aunt Blair? Please, tell me how you know that."
"I treated a man's wife who had it done and that's all he could talk about. He talked the entire time I was in the room. He said that's the signature of Kasanoda and couldn't stop berating his wife for borrowing money from him."
Daphne scoffed. Pulling the stopper from the drain in the sink, she flicked the dripping water off of her fingers and then finished them off with the damp towel Blair was holding. She tried to find any hint of joking in her aunt's face, but stopped smiling when she saw the seriousness in the older woman's eyes.
"Hey," she started, putting her hand on her aunt's forearm and lowering her voice to a soft, comforting timber, "It's ok. Kasanoda is a nice guy. Besides, it's not a real date. I'm just helping him learn how to take a girl out, is all."
Blair didn't return any sign of condolence causing Daphne to sigh.
"Don't worry, Aunt Blair." The girl smiled softly before dropping her hand, "I'm going to take a shower."
Coffee in Japan was never strong enough for Blair, especially after tossing and turning all night thinking about the date her niece was going to go on with a boy whose family runs a national crime syndicate. She trotted down the stairs to wait at the corner of her apartment complex for Kogura. Anxiously, she tapped her nails against the glass to-go container of brew that she'd been sipping. She didn't even know how to feel. On one hand, Daphne was almost an adult and hadn't really given her a reason to worry about the decisions she made. On the other hand, this boy could kidnap her in broad daylight and no one would say a word because of who he belongs to. Kogura didn't know it yet, but it would be a long, agonizing ride to the hospital.
"I mean, I have no idea who this boy is! He could be used to chopping up bodies and dumping them in the ocean!" Blair flailed her hands, almost hitting them against the chest of her long-suffering boyfriend who simply sighed and leaned his ear into his palm as they sat in traffic. "Kasanoda! I told you that, right? Like the ring-finger-stealing Kasanodas! Remember from last month when that guy came in with his wife and—"
"Blair."
The firm voice of Kogura caused her to stop her raving, her hands finding their place in her lap and a deep sigh coming from her throat.
"Yes, Kogaru?"
"If you're that worried, why don't we just go with her on a double date?" The man shrugged, picking her coffee mug up from the cup holder and taking a sip. "Eh, you always make coffee so strong."
The American woman shot him a look, "Excuse me, what kind of parental figure do you think I am? She'll think I don't trust her and that's way too invasive."
Kogura sighed, "Well, I can always reattach the finger if need be."
He shot a glance over at his girlfriend only to find that she was miles away in thought, her thumb nail in her mouth, chewing it absentmindedly.
"And she's hanging out with these boys from the private high school. Apparently, she's part of some club and that's why she's going on this date in the first place. I've met one of those boys, the blonde one. What was his name?"
Kogura watched the woman mutter to herself. He'd learned from their time together that he should just let her go on these little 'brain vacations' when she needed to figure something out. She was a brilliant nurse, so he figured that it was just part of her process to reach the most logical conclusion on a matter.
"Tamaki. His name is Tamaki and he's the president. He's also the one that Daphne said walked her home from her jobs so often. And he called me to ask if Daph could go to some waterpark with them. I still have his phone number, I think."
Kogura nodded along with her line of reasoning.
"Maybe you should just call him and ask him about the boy." He suggested in a low voice, knowing that his input wouldn't be heard in this time of psychosis.
The two sat in a pregnant silence, Blair's eyes fixed out of her window. Suddenly, her hands clapped together loudly. This would have surprised Kogura two years ago, but now he was so used to her behaviors.
"That's it!" She cried before snatching her purse from the floorboard and frantically digging. "I'll call that Tamaki boy and ask him about that Kasanoda kid!"
The doctor nodded, sending her a small smile, "Brilliant, darling."
Daphne smoothed out her pale green skirt and pulled her ankle sock from its race to the bottom of her sneaker. The twins had come the night before, digging through her closet and insulting every piece of clothing she owned before settling on the outfit she was currently wearing. She initially protested their presence, but they reminded her that the date was a Host Club event and they had free reign over her clothing options.
Honestly, the outfit they'd chosen wasn't so bad, if not a little skimpy. Her make up was heavier than she usually wore, but it didn't look bad. The twins gave her a full face of glamor that she didn't think fit with a street fair, but she would try her best to recreate it the next day.
"We want him to feel like he's going out with the caliber of woman that are in his league."
Hikaru pulled a stiff, shiny black leather jacket over her shoulders. Kaoru nodded along with his brother, straightening the bottom of her cropped top.
"Yea, we just want him to feel as comfortable as possible."
She wasn't sure if she should be insulted or if Ritsu should be insulted, but either way, she gave the twins a stiff punch in the arms after the comment.
Ritsu was prompt, knocking on her apartment door at the exact time they'd agreed upon. She smiled, opening the door to greet him only to have flowers shoved into her stomach. Stumbling back a step, she continued her now strained smile. His hand trembled as she took to the bouquet.
"Th-these are for you."
Sitting the bundle on the counter, she pulled Ritsu inside the kitchen and shut the door behind him. She figured she would give him a minute to calm down before throwing him into the sea of people that populated the street fair. Walking to the cabinet and pulling out a glass vase, she sent Ritsu another smile.
"These are beautiful."
"I didn't pick them out." He replied quickly, leaning against the wall. His eye-line burned into the floor. He heard the tap turn on in the sink, assuming she was filling the vase and placing the flowers.
He was blowing this already, he knew it. God, he'd practically punched her in the belly trying to give her flowers. His hands couldn't stop shaking. Squeezing his eyes shut, he tried to talk himself out of bolting for the door. Maybe this wasn't such a good idea. Maybe he was destined to be alone forever. Maybe she would call Haruhi and start laughing about how much he'd fucked up their practice date after he left.
Suddenly, the feeling of a weight sat on his shoulders. Opening his eyes, he saw two white sneakers in front of him. Scanning upward, he came face to face with Daphne. Her hands sat on his shoulders, a look of expectation on her face.
"Ritsu," She started. He could feel the bottom of his stomach drop at his name. He knew she was going to tell him to leave. However, the heaviness in his chest lifted as she continued, "You have to calm down. We are friends; we are two friends spending the day together. I'm going to teach you how to treat a girl on a date. There are no grades. There is no pressure."
He sighed, his hand coming to his forehead as he rubbed his brow, "Yea, I know. I just—I dunno. I just don't wanna fuck this up—I mean, mess it up."
She let out a light laugh at his self-conscious correction, "Look, the only way you'll fuck it up is if you aren't yourself. We'll just have wasted the day."
He seemed to relax under her hands, giving her a weak smile. Nodding, she returned the look and grabbed his hand to lead him toward the door.
She was determined to make this day as fun as possible for both of them. Opening her apartment door, they both stepped out into the sunny day. Below them a throng of children, parents, and teens that were freed for the day from studying, circulated.
"Come on, Ritsu," Daphne said, giving his hand a reassuring squeeze, "You can buy me some popcorn."
The two spent the entire afternoon making their way from food stalls to game booths to tiny shops. They blended in with the crowd as much as a tall foreigner and a mob baby could. She was impressed by Ritsu's sense of style. His street clothes were nice; they were not as stylish as the Host Club boys' but their fit well and seemed expensive. When she complemented him on his look, he blushed furiously and murmured a "Thanks."
By the time they were to the vacant lot that held the few fair rides, Ritsu had loosened up and told Daphne about himself, his family. He let her in on what it was like growing up around mobster and she told him what it was like to move from place to place only to end up living away from her parents.
"The mob and the military aren't so different, I figure." He mused as they sat at a picnic table eating ice cream.
Daphne pursed her lips, raising her eyebrows in curiosity, "Not that I don't agree but please, continue."
"I just mean that there's a lot of rule and your parents are gone most of the time." He stated, licking the chocolate swirl that dripped onto his finger, "My mom died when I was a baby, so my dad was the only one doing the parenting. Even then, he left the little things to nannies and then his henchmen when I got older. Mostly, he lives in our country house to keep himself as far from the actual criminal activity as possible while still being at the center of it."
Daphne nodded along with him, "My dad lived away from us a lot, too. When I was younger, he'd live on base but not really in our apartment. I still had my mom and two older brothers, though."
"I'm an only child."
Daphne smiled at him, "You lucky dog. I had to share my bathroom with two gross boys and you're over here living in the lap of luxury."
Ritsu laughed humorlessly but still smiled at his date, "Lap of loneliness is more like it."
There was a comfortable silence between them as they finished their ice creams. Daphne had thoroughly enjoyed her day with the Kasanoda. He was interesting and cute. Once you got passed the 'fuck you' look on his face, the brutish charm he had bubbling under the surface caught you off guard.
"How about we go on the Ferris wheel before I take you home?" He offered, breaking the silence and tossing his used napkin in the trash can beside their table. Daphne copied his actions, nodding her head.
"That sounds great, Ritsu."
The ride was small but still rose high enough for them to peek over the tops of the buildings that lined the vacant lot. The setting sun brushed light pink below the paling blue of day time, giving their ride a lovely backdrop.
"It's Haruhi."
Daphne looked to Ritsu who was staring at the tie-dye sky.
"What's Haruhi?"
He turned his eyes to her, "The girl I like is Haruhi."
Her eyes widened in shock. He knew about Haruhi? He laughed at her surprised expression.
"It's ok, I'm not going to tell anyone about her secret gender identity."
Daphne faltered. In all the time she'd known Haruhi—throughout their most hormonal years—Haruhi never talked about being attracted to anyone of any gender. When boys would pal around with her, she'd take it as friendship. Even when the boys showed the tale-tell signs of having a crush on Haruhi, the girl would miss the signals completely. Daphne had toyed with the notion that Haruhi was asexual but wouldn't simply assign the label to her friend without Haruhi acknowledging it first.
"Um, Ritsu," she started, her words jumbling in her mouth as she searched for the best way to let him down, "I— uh. I don't think Haruhi is interested. Not just because it's you, I mean. Uh. She's never shown any interest in anyone other than friendship. She's never told me about any crushes she's had in the past and we're best friends."
Ritsu let out a sigh, rubbing his palms on the knees of his jeans, "Yea, I kinda knew my first crush would turn out this way. I guess I'm just not her type."
Daphne shook her head, her face contorting in genuine thought, "Honestly, I don't think she has a type."
He leaned back, his arm stretching out on the back of the bench behind them, "I guess I'm not anyone's type."
The girl looked at him incredulously, "I didn't say that. I know plenty of girls that would be interested."
Ritsu almost jumped up, suddenly jolting forward and causing the wheel chair to tip back and forth.
"Really?" He asked excitedly, catching Daphne off guard. She raised her eyebrows at him, nodding slowly.
"Uh, yea? But they go to my school so they're not rich. You'd be dating way below your own income level."
Ritsu shook his head, "So what? I was interested in Haruhi and you guys are basically poverty level."
She sent him a blank stare, "We're not 'poverty level.' My aunt is a nurse for Christ's sake. Haruhi and I live in a nice apartment complex."
He smiled sheepishly.
"Oh, uh, sorry."
"Despite your insult, I'm going to help you."
The redhead let out a shout of excitement, rushing Daphne and enveloping her in a tight hug.
"You're a real friend, Daphne."
She laughed, patting the attention starved boy on the back.
"I know."
It was dark by the time Ritsu dropped Daphne at her door. She'd spent the walk home telling him about her friends, trying to match the personalities of the girls and the prospective boyfriend. He was fairly honest about his likes and dislikes, allowing her to narrow their pool down to a few ladies and one in particular that she'd thought he would be compatible with.
"I'll talk to Lona tomorrow at school and we can set something up."
She stood in her doorway while Ritsu shifted anxiously in the breezeway. He nodded, his hand stuffed in his pockets. She smiled at his nervous demeanor, placing her hand on his arm to calm him as she had done before their trial date even began.
"Go home, Ritsu. I'll see you later."
He gave her a quick 'goodbye' before strutting down the walkway.
Closing the door, she sighed in relief. She'd had fun but now she was exhausted. Rolling her head around on her shoulders, she groaned as the tension built and then released. She slipped off her jacket and hung it on the coat rack beside the door before a knock on said door startled her. Her hand landed on the door knob, swinging it open quickly while smiling.
"Ritsu, I told you I'll talk to her tom—"
I wasn't Ritsu. The sight of a tall, blonde heir sent her face into a frown. She crossed her arms over her chest as she shook her head at Tamaki. She noted the apologetic look on his face, but was too annoyed to care.
"You were spying on us, weren't you?"
Quickly his hands shot up in front of him as he shook his head 'no,'
"Absolutely not." He said hurriedly, trying to convince the girl before she became any more agitated, "I just promised your aunt that I would stop by after the date and check on you."
"How did you know when I would be home?" She questioned, her eyebrow cocked skeptically. Tamaki sent her a confused look.
"This is the time you both agreed upon in the Host room, is it not? Casanova may be rough around the edges but I don't believe he would go against his word."
Slowly, Daphne nodded. After a moment of the boy standing in the walkway in silent repentance with a puppy look on his face, she sighed and waved him inside.
"Come on, Tamaki. I'll let you know how it went."
He perked up but not too much, realizing the thin ice he was treading on with Daphne. She had already told him once that she wanted to be more independent without him observing from afar. However, when he received the call from Blair, he knew he had to comply to the woman's request to put her mind at ease.
Daphne left him in the sitting area, resting on the couch while she went to her bedroom to change clothes into leisure attire.
"So, Aunt Blair asked you to stop by after our date?" She called from her open door.
Tamaki nodded, even though he knew she couldn't see him.
"She called me this morning and asked about Casanov—Kasanoda. I assured her that you were in no danger and would be able to handle yourself. I talked her down from having your tailed throughout the street fair and promised I would see that you made it home safely afterward."
It was quiet in Daphne's room for a few minutes before she emerged in sweat pants and a loose-fitting crop top. She had taken her make up off, but Tamaki was not put off by the difference between her freshly cleaned face and the product design the twins had given her to wear that day. Her skins was a little more red from washing and her eyes were not as defined but she didn't look bad. She looked realistic to him, a real human that he was able to interact with. The previous look was beautiful but it made her look unattainable without the ability to approach her. But maybe that's how she wanted to be with her past experience.
"You actually told Aunt Blair that I could take care of myself?" She questioned, opening the refrigerator and retrieving a cold bottle of water. He smiled knowingly as she crossed the room to sit beside him.
"Yes, yes I did."
"What a friend." She smiled softly before taking a drink. The two sat in silence, staring at one another. Tamaki blinked first, patting Daphne on the knee and shifting away to stand. He was surprised when he felt a hand on his arm pulling back to the ground.
"Wait—" She started but stopped her sentence immediately. He sat back down and raised an eyebrow at her. She bit her lip, trying to form a reason for him to stay.
"Why don't you stay with me for a while? We can watch a movie."
Tamaki nodded slowly, smiling.
"Anything you ask, princess."
They settled on an old American movie that Daphne had grown up watching. A mobster movie in black and white with tommy-guns and women in tight pencil skirts. Tamaki regarded the men, asking her if their behavior was the same that Ritsu exhibited. Daphne laughed and told him that it was Hollywood and Ritsu wasn't a 1920's gangster.
"He really was very nice." She said, taking a few pieces of popcorn from their shared bowl. "He has a crush on Haruhi."
Tamaki bristled for a moment then relaxed next to Daphne.
"Well," he stated, "She certainly has a charm about her."
Daphne nodded, "She really does."
Tamaki was quiet for a while. His thoughts about Ritsu liking Haruhi were oddly nothing to him. He expected to feel threatened while learning of another man's interest in the girl, but, in the company of Daphne, he felt at ease.
"Anyway," She pulled him from his thoughts as she continued, "I'm going to try and set him up with one of my friends. I don't think he and Haruhi are a match."
"How do you judge if they are a match or not?"
Tamaki's question took her by surprise. She didn't expect any follow up to her own judgment, but she certainly did have a reason.
The piece of popcorn that had travelled halfway to her mouth stopped as she thought about her response.
"I dunno," She said, her finger tapping her lip, "Their vibes just don't go together, I guess."
Tamaki let out a light laugh, "What on earth is a 'vibe'?"
Daphne copied his laugh, smiling at him, "It's like their energy. He's really tough and hard. She's really… aloof? Maybe that's not the right word. She's just so rational and logical."
"Rational and logical are the same thing."
She shot him a look, "Well, those are the characteristics I choose."
He chuckled, Well, then, tell me about my 'vibes'."
Daphne sat back, regarding Tamaki, pretending to critically assess him. She Hmm-ed, eyeing him up and down before speaking.
"I'd say you are energetic, playful, and extremely loyal to your friends."
He sent her a sly smile, "I am a golden retriever."
Daphne let out a barking laugh that was joined by Tamaki. After she composed herself again, she raised a brow at him.
"What do you think about my 'vibes'?"
He scrunched his nose, "I don't know anything about vibes."
"Make an assessment."
He turned his body toward her, his lavender eyes scanning her face. She felt her breath hitch in her throat as his eye connected with hers. His hand floated to her face, his thumb brushing over her cheek.
"You, Daphne Collier, are stubborn, independent, and…"
He stopped, taking in a shallow breath as he regarded her. Their bodies seemed to be caught in the other's gravitational pull, neither noticing until centimeters from each other's lips.
"Overwhelmingly beautiful."
Daphne brushed her lips over his, not fighting the shiver that climbed up her spine as he pressed his weight into her while pulling her closer by her chin. His tongue drug across her lip, asking for entrance which she readily granted.
He moaned into her mouth, his hand moving to her hair. She moved toward him, parting her knees so that she straddled him. His free hand moved to her hip, gripping her tightly.
This was not like him at all. He believed in marriage before intimacy. He believed young ladies should be protected, regarded as delicate, blooming flowers. However, in this moment with Daphne in his lap taking initiative to bring their bodies closer together and her tongue in his mouth, he couldn't remember his name let alone his core values.
"Tamaki," She moaned, her voice airy as she left his lips and travelled down to his neck. Her hand caught his, bringing it up under her shirt to her clothed breast. He squeezed lightly at first, unsure of how to proceed, but was quickly instructed by Daphne's hand to be less than gentle. His breath caught in his throat as she buck against his hips, her hot core melting into him.
"Mi amor," He babbled, his head swimming with her making small nips at his throat, "Bel ange."
Pulling away from him, she stared at the flustered blonde as they both panted for air. She finally caught her breath, leaning forward and pressing her forehead to his.
Closing her eyes, she sighed, "Tamaki, we have to stop."
"I agree."
That's not what she wanted him to say. She wanted him to protest so she could break her thin-as-paper willpower and take him to her bedroom. She didn't hold her virginity on a pedestal like some girls, so losing it to someone like Tamaki wouldn't be a big deal. All people considered, she would rather lose it to him instead of someone who would ghost her afterward.
His hands pressed against her thighs, guiding her off of him and back into her original seat. He excused himself to the restroom to calm himself down, urinating and tucking his hard member into the waistband of his jeans so he would not make Daphne uncomfortable at the sight of his arousal. When he became aroused, usually he would take care of it in the privacy of his restroom at home so no staff member would accidentally interrupt him in the shameful act of self pleasure. His persona within the Host Club was an elegant playboy, but in the darkness of his bedroom he buried who he truly was—an insure virgin who was ashamed.
Taking a deep breath, he splashed water on his face and dried it with a towel hanging near the sink. It was scratchy. It was harsh. He had never, in his life, felt such as sensation—and Daphne felt it everyday. She lived a life that was blissfully ignorant of the finest things in the world, things only he and other elite few were privy to. This is who she was, fundamentally. She was the scratchy towel and he was an Egyptian cotton sheet. What he really going to allow himself to delve into the hard world that she lived in and get himself dirty?
Exiting the bathroom, he saw her standing in the kitchen, putting away the freshly washed popcorn bowl. She looked over her shoulder at him, smiling that damned smile that made him feel warm.
She didn't look dirty from the world. She didn't feel dirty from the world. She looked happy, content.
He could be happy and content with her. He could be a scratchy towel.