My Baby...
Title: Untitled
Disclaimer: Do I look like I can draw? 'Course 's not my creation..
Warnings: Eventual Kyoya/Haruhi, and set in the post-grad-school future. Which means I'll probably have some manga spoilage in it. I don't really watch the anime, so it's just manga spoilers I'm obligated to warn about. ;P
Notes: This isn't beta'ed, I know, I know... And it took forever. And this is a rough. And I suck, because I've been holding it hostage for a while, it's just that I'm straight up, plain not happy with it. The ending is happier than what I had in mind because I was afraid of falling into a melodramatic path. But I've held it back a bit too long, and the guilt eats me alive. The epilogue is half done, and when I finish it, this chapter will probably be rewritten, too. :X But! As of now/until I have the time for the epilogue, the story is FINISHED. MUAHAHAHAHAHA. God I've lost it. :)
Summary: She's stuck in the real world now, and among her oldest friends are those from her high school Host Club. Unfortunately, Haruhi's relationships with the boys are anything but straightforward, especially whatever she has[had] with one Kyoya Ohtori. The setting is now Global, and the drama has long begun.
Part one | Part two| Part three| Part four| Part five| Part six
I’m not in Paris.
Haruhi realized that she was a bit of a masochist; masochism was the only reason she would fall in love with someone as exasperating as Kyoya, especially since the man was the member of the Host Club most tied by society. It was also the only reason she would be walking down Fifth Avenue looking for a bar. She stopped outside of her destination, hands shoved into her pocket as she contemplated the innocuous building before her. With a mental shrug, she walked in, ignoring the fussing doorman (who was shocked by her ragamuffin appearance), turned the corner, and tossed herself into the nearest barstool.
“Haruhi,” The doorman’s fussing was halted by the bartender’s acknowledgement of the girl. “It’s been two years, and you don’t even say ‘hi’?”
“…Hey, Kanako. Does your family know about your little hobby yet?” Haruhi peeled off her extra layers with silent thanks to the creators of centralized heating systems.
“Not exactly, but it’s not like there’s that much for me to do, just go over proposals and sign papers… And my assistants are paid well to do that for me.”
“So you man a bar in your free time.”
“It’s a teashop!” Kanako pulled a teapot from a heated cabinet as though to prove her point, pouring boiled water into the ceramic piece and then dumping a blend of dried plants that would make the amazing tea she was known for.
“With the latest merchandise ordered directly from-“
“Haru!” Kanako blinked, then scowled when she recognized the teasing glint in the other girl’s eyes. “Haven’t you had enough of teasing me yet? I swear, first high school, then as soon as you and Kyoya found this place…”
“I can’t help it,” Haruhi was just as naturally charming as a girl as she was as a ‘boy’. “You’re just so cute.”
“Flirt.”
“You enjoy it.”
“Maybe,” Kanako admitted, before meeting her friend’s eyes. Without warning, the two girls burst into laughter, covering the sound of the doorman’s greeting as another customer walked in. His footsteps were light, and he stopped before stepping into view to listen to their laughter.
“Why are you here? I wouldn’t expect you to be at Paris, but I wouldn’t’ve expected you here, either.” Kanako set the teapot aside to steep.
“I,” suddenly there was a tone of hesitance in Haruhi’s voice. “He sent me a note.
“He’s not in Paris, Kanako.”
There was a moment of shocked silence, and Kyoya took the opportunity to step out from behind the corner, mischief in his eyes, leaving Kanako fighting to keep her jaw from dropping as Haruhi continued, oblivious.
“And he sent Kasanoda with the note, and he wouldn’t just leave Alice like that, and I just wanted to, well-“
“Talk?”
Kanako grinned when Haruhi jumped at the interruption, familiar with this trend of flirtation between the two. She wondered, momentarily, if she should worry about them, shrugged it off and hums to herself as she put in an order to the kitchen and nodded approvingly at the young waitress following her friends with teacups; Kyoya was already leading Haruhi to one of the booths, teapot in hand.
-=+=-
"You know I love you."
"Hm," Haruhi sipped at her cup of tea. "The thought has occurred, several times." She put the cup down, eying him warily. "What are you doing here?"
He caught her hand in his, using the other to tilt her chin up and force her to look at him. She had avoided doing so, avoided him so she could blind herself to the reality that was Kyoya. Haruhi was tired of knowing everything about him, including what he would never do. So he forced her to look, and his eyes seared into her: tired, hungry, anticipatory, nervous, and loving. That was the crux of it; no matter what he did, she had always been secure in the fact that he loved her. Loves her, really, though he had never been so open about it. So open that, even though she was the one who ran away, he seemed to be more vulnerable. The shiver slipped down her spine, and the couple was oblivious to Kanako’s gasp, and the crash of porcelain and cookies on the floor.
“There are more important things in life.”
The kiss seared through both of them, leaving Haruhi’s hands shaking and Kyoya uncharacteristically flushed. It signified both their end and their new beginning, which of course prompted a genuine smile from both parties. Haruhi waited for Kanako’s staff to finish cleaning her mess-and for the bartender to come back with a tiny decanter of brandy and a plate of cookies-before letting her pragmatic side begin its interrogation. She chewed on a cookie as Kyoya poured the brandy into their teapot before pouring the amber liquid into their waiting teacups.
“What are you going to do about Alice, then?”
“Hm, Tamaki’s about as in love with her as she is in love with him, and the cementing of their alliance is better for everyone involved.
“I think they eloped to Jamaica.”
“Immediate fallout?”
“Bad for me.” He shrugged. “It has been suggested that I take a short leave of absence to placate the stockholders. The fact that it means that I’m merely taking the time off that I would have for my honeymoon seems to be negligible.”
“I see. You’re on vacation then.”
“My staff isn’t so incompetent that I can’t leave them alone for a month.”
“I’ve heard that the ideal honeymoon should be two months long.”
“Ah, but I no longer have a bride to keep me occupied.” His fingers curled around the teacup. “Unless you’re volunteering.”
“Unfortunately, I recently decided to run away with a dashing young artist-“
“I’m afraid Kaoru can’t make it.”
“Then I’ll go with Hikaru.”
“If he can get away from Milan.”
“You’re trying to trap me.” There was a smile in her eyes as her hands cupped the nearly empty cup.
“I never could.”
His eyes were serious as he looked at her; years’ worth of conversation slipping between them before she smiled and he let the relief bleed into his eyes. It was not a capitulation on either of their parts, but a compromise of sorts. Her eyes were as soft and loving as his were amazed.
“I won’t marry you.”
“Not yet,” he acknowledges, trying not to smile when she immediately frowns.
“I’d rather marry Kaoru.”
“He does understand you better,” Kyoya acceded. “But you like my games more.”
“His fashion sense is better.”
“He’s my personal tailor, I fail to see the significance.”
“I love him.”
“But you’re not in love with him.” Haruhi shivered at the look in his eyes. “Haruhi…”
“I’m in love with you.” She whispers.
“I know.”
There was a moment of silence were she indulged in her initial reaction of just gaping at him. Unaffected, Kyoya lifted his teacup to his lips, enjoying the tea and brandy as he waited for her to get over her shock. With a groan, the petite woman massaged her temples. Not for the first time, she wondered what she saw in this man; in all her men, really, because Kaoru was just as infuriating as Kyoya. And Tamaki was infinitely more irritating.
“Why are you such a cocky prat?”
“Because you wouldn’t love me otherwise.”
“Haven’t you ever heard of a rhetorical question?”
“Was that rhetorical?”
“Possibly.”
“Will admitting that I recognized your rhetorical questions as such and then proceeded to ignore their rhetorical nature give me a free pass into your bed?”
“No.”
“Why not? I just lost a great deal of profit in the short run by deciding not to marry a female Tamaki.”
“I’ve never known you not to think long term.”
“I suppose that’s supposed to mean that you’ve seen through me, then?” He spoke the question as a statement, and she smiled at him.
“Translation: ‘I love you, and if I get over my stupid business sense enough to admit it, everyone will be happier in the long run and the twins will stop bugging me.’”
“Something like that.”
He twined their fingers together and smiled back.
Disclaimer: Do I look like I can draw? 'Course 's not my creation..
Warnings: Eventual Kyoya/Haruhi, and set in the post-grad-school future. Which means I'll probably have some manga spoilage in it. I don't really watch the anime, so it's just manga spoilers I'm obligated to warn about. ;P
Notes: This isn't beta'ed, I know, I know... And it took forever. And this is a rough. And I suck, because I've been holding it hostage for a while, it's just that I'm straight up, plain not happy with it. The ending is happier than what I had in mind because I was afraid of falling into a melodramatic path. But I've held it back a bit too long, and the guilt eats me alive. The epilogue is half done, and when I finish it, this chapter will probably be rewritten, too. :X But! As of now/until I have the time for the epilogue, the story is FINISHED. MUAHAHAHAHAHA. God I've lost it. :)
Summary: She's stuck in the real world now, and among her oldest friends are those from her high school Host Club. Unfortunately, Haruhi's relationships with the boys are anything but straightforward, especially whatever she has[had] with one Kyoya Ohtori. The setting is now Global, and the drama has long begun.
Part one | Part two| Part three| Part four| Part five| Part six
I’m not in Paris.
Haruhi realized that she was a bit of a masochist; masochism was the only reason she would fall in love with someone as exasperating as Kyoya, especially since the man was the member of the Host Club most tied by society. It was also the only reason she would be walking down Fifth Avenue looking for a bar. She stopped outside of her destination, hands shoved into her pocket as she contemplated the innocuous building before her. With a mental shrug, she walked in, ignoring the fussing doorman (who was shocked by her ragamuffin appearance), turned the corner, and tossed herself into the nearest barstool.
“Haruhi,” The doorman’s fussing was halted by the bartender’s acknowledgement of the girl. “It’s been two years, and you don’t even say ‘hi’?”
“…Hey, Kanako. Does your family know about your little hobby yet?” Haruhi peeled off her extra layers with silent thanks to the creators of centralized heating systems.
“Not exactly, but it’s not like there’s that much for me to do, just go over proposals and sign papers… And my assistants are paid well to do that for me.”
“So you man a bar in your free time.”
“It’s a teashop!” Kanako pulled a teapot from a heated cabinet as though to prove her point, pouring boiled water into the ceramic piece and then dumping a blend of dried plants that would make the amazing tea she was known for.
“With the latest merchandise ordered directly from-“
“Haru!” Kanako blinked, then scowled when she recognized the teasing glint in the other girl’s eyes. “Haven’t you had enough of teasing me yet? I swear, first high school, then as soon as you and Kyoya found this place…”
“I can’t help it,” Haruhi was just as naturally charming as a girl as she was as a ‘boy’. “You’re just so cute.”
“Flirt.”
“You enjoy it.”
“Maybe,” Kanako admitted, before meeting her friend’s eyes. Without warning, the two girls burst into laughter, covering the sound of the doorman’s greeting as another customer walked in. His footsteps were light, and he stopped before stepping into view to listen to their laughter.
“Why are you here? I wouldn’t expect you to be at Paris, but I wouldn’t’ve expected you here, either.” Kanako set the teapot aside to steep.
“I,” suddenly there was a tone of hesitance in Haruhi’s voice. “He sent me a note.
“He’s not in Paris, Kanako.”
There was a moment of shocked silence, and Kyoya took the opportunity to step out from behind the corner, mischief in his eyes, leaving Kanako fighting to keep her jaw from dropping as Haruhi continued, oblivious.
“And he sent Kasanoda with the note, and he wouldn’t just leave Alice like that, and I just wanted to, well-“
“Talk?”
Kanako grinned when Haruhi jumped at the interruption, familiar with this trend of flirtation between the two. She wondered, momentarily, if she should worry about them, shrugged it off and hums to herself as she put in an order to the kitchen and nodded approvingly at the young waitress following her friends with teacups; Kyoya was already leading Haruhi to one of the booths, teapot in hand.
-=+=-
"You know I love you."
"Hm," Haruhi sipped at her cup of tea. "The thought has occurred, several times." She put the cup down, eying him warily. "What are you doing here?"
He caught her hand in his, using the other to tilt her chin up and force her to look at him. She had avoided doing so, avoided him so she could blind herself to the reality that was Kyoya. Haruhi was tired of knowing everything about him, including what he would never do. So he forced her to look, and his eyes seared into her: tired, hungry, anticipatory, nervous, and loving. That was the crux of it; no matter what he did, she had always been secure in the fact that he loved her. Loves her, really, though he had never been so open about it. So open that, even though she was the one who ran away, he seemed to be more vulnerable. The shiver slipped down her spine, and the couple was oblivious to Kanako’s gasp, and the crash of porcelain and cookies on the floor.
“There are more important things in life.”
The kiss seared through both of them, leaving Haruhi’s hands shaking and Kyoya uncharacteristically flushed. It signified both their end and their new beginning, which of course prompted a genuine smile from both parties. Haruhi waited for Kanako’s staff to finish cleaning her mess-and for the bartender to come back with a tiny decanter of brandy and a plate of cookies-before letting her pragmatic side begin its interrogation. She chewed on a cookie as Kyoya poured the brandy into their teapot before pouring the amber liquid into their waiting teacups.
“What are you going to do about Alice, then?”
“Hm, Tamaki’s about as in love with her as she is in love with him, and the cementing of their alliance is better for everyone involved.
“I think they eloped to Jamaica.”
“Immediate fallout?”
“Bad for me.” He shrugged. “It has been suggested that I take a short leave of absence to placate the stockholders. The fact that it means that I’m merely taking the time off that I would have for my honeymoon seems to be negligible.”
“I see. You’re on vacation then.”
“My staff isn’t so incompetent that I can’t leave them alone for a month.”
“I’ve heard that the ideal honeymoon should be two months long.”
“Ah, but I no longer have a bride to keep me occupied.” His fingers curled around the teacup. “Unless you’re volunteering.”
“Unfortunately, I recently decided to run away with a dashing young artist-“
“I’m afraid Kaoru can’t make it.”
“Then I’ll go with Hikaru.”
“If he can get away from Milan.”
“You’re trying to trap me.” There was a smile in her eyes as her hands cupped the nearly empty cup.
“I never could.”
His eyes were serious as he looked at her; years’ worth of conversation slipping between them before she smiled and he let the relief bleed into his eyes. It was not a capitulation on either of their parts, but a compromise of sorts. Her eyes were as soft and loving as his were amazed.
“I won’t marry you.”
“Not yet,” he acknowledges, trying not to smile when she immediately frowns.
“I’d rather marry Kaoru.”
“He does understand you better,” Kyoya acceded. “But you like my games more.”
“His fashion sense is better.”
“He’s my personal tailor, I fail to see the significance.”
“I love him.”
“But you’re not in love with him.” Haruhi shivered at the look in his eyes. “Haruhi…”
“I’m in love with you.” She whispers.
“I know.”
There was a moment of silence were she indulged in her initial reaction of just gaping at him. Unaffected, Kyoya lifted his teacup to his lips, enjoying the tea and brandy as he waited for her to get over her shock. With a groan, the petite woman massaged her temples. Not for the first time, she wondered what she saw in this man; in all her men, really, because Kaoru was just as infuriating as Kyoya. And Tamaki was infinitely more irritating.
“Why are you such a cocky prat?”
“Because you wouldn’t love me otherwise.”
“Haven’t you ever heard of a rhetorical question?”
“Was that rhetorical?”
“Possibly.”
“Will admitting that I recognized your rhetorical questions as such and then proceeded to ignore their rhetorical nature give me a free pass into your bed?”
“No.”
“Why not? I just lost a great deal of profit in the short run by deciding not to marry a female Tamaki.”
“I’ve never known you not to think long term.”
“I suppose that’s supposed to mean that you’ve seen through me, then?” He spoke the question as a statement, and she smiled at him.
“Translation: ‘I love you, and if I get over my stupid business sense enough to admit it, everyone will be happier in the long run and the twins will stop bugging me.’”
“Something like that.”
He twined their fingers together and smiled back.