My Baby, which still doesn't have a title
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: It's starting to roll... Still looking for anyone willing to beta for me~! ...*makes up a summary on the spot*
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 Paris, the when is Haruhi's now, and the trouble has already been brewing.
Part one | Part two
"You're Haruhi Fujioka, right?"
Haruhi stops and glances at the girl. The meeting is finished and she had been heading to the elevators, determined to change into more comfortable clothing, until the girl stopped her. She takes in the girl's dirty blond locks, green eyes, and the fan in her hand. She is also, Haruhi notes with some envy, dressed casually in a pair of vintage Scorpion Rock & Republic jeans and a Diesel shirt. Pushing a stray lock of hair from her face, the girl blushes a little under Haruhi's scrutiny.
"Yes, I am," Haruhi replies. Something about the girl is familiar, and recognition dawns in her mind just before the girl's blush fades and a wide, friendly grin lights up her eyes.
"Oh! I'm Alice Nakajima and it's so good to finally meet you." The girl is gushing as she impetuously grabs Haruhi's hand. "I mean, Kyoya-san hardly has any pictures of his friends, and the only ones I've seen are the ones Suoh-kun shows me. And of course most of those are of him in high school, which makes me think that, aside from Kuze-san and Mitsuyama-chan, well, most of his friends were in the Host Club. And you're the only one I hadn't met yet!"
It takes quite a bit of self control for Haruhi to hold back a grimace; the girl is too genuine and sugary sweet for Kyoya. While that might be what he likes in Alice, she hardly thinks that she must be held subject to such energy. Haruhi has more than enough patience to tolerate it, but she prefers to steer clear of such headache-spawning energies. Besides, the girl is too bright, too blond, and too anything for Haruhi to handle at the moment, especially after that meeting. All Haruhi wants is tea, a sandwich, and decent clothes.
"And," the girl continues, oblivious to Haruhi's discomfort, as her speech slows and a blush paints itself becomingly onto her cheeks. "Well, I want to know Kyoya-san's friends. It will make marriage that much easier, ne?"
"His eclectic choice in friends might give you a bit of insight." Haruhi's replies, tone flat. At Alice's surprised glance, she drops her suitcase and rubs at her temple.
"You must be here for Kyoya-san's birthay!" Alice squeezes her hand, and Haruhi tries not to wince at the girl's assumption. Controlling her tone, the exhausted lawyer decided to cut her losses and let the girl make her own assumptions.
"Look, Nakajima, I mean no offense, but I just got out of a five hour meeting that cut through lunch and not only am I hungry, I'm in a color that I'm not particularly fond of. We can meet later, I know Renge has both our information."
"O-oh, sure." Alice drops her hand, and Haruhi recollects her suitcase and turns to continue her walk to the elevators.
"You haven't changed, Haruhi." The voice is familiar, and tickles her ears as they walk past each other. She hears something rattling and reflexively raises her hand in time to intercept, then fumble with whatever Kyoya had thrown at her. She is almost elated when she recognizes the tea blend, and instructions to a nearby cafe.
"Thanks, Kyoya." Her headache builds and she knows he's either laughing or disappointed that she refuses to look at him. She pushes the button for the elevator and, in the time she has to think, resolutely ignores the resounding ac--
The doors slip open, and she is more than happy to walk in and let them close behind her.
~=+=~
Haruhi walked into the conference room with the confident expectation that it would be empty. It was an apt belief, considering that she had arrived several hours before the meeting was scheduled to begin. It was also extremely early, enough so that the only person she had seen in the office was one tired secretary. So it was quite understandable that she was shocked to come across her (sort of) friend. He was disgustingly awake, and took one glance at her before walking to the coffee carafe. Maybe, if she were lucky, he would let her sleep the day away at the conference table. With that bright thought, she dumped her briefcase and slumped into a chair.
"You look like shit, Haruhi."
"Thanks, Nekozawa, you have no idea how much my ego needed that."
She shot him an annoyed glance before dropping her head back into her arms. Two days had passed since she had seen Kyoya, though his fiancee continued to trail her. A thud, and a slight scraping sound pushed something hot against her hands, and she reflexively grabbed the cup. The rich scent of hazelnut coffee hit her nose, and she found more than enough energy to push herself back into a sitting position.
"Considering that you've been living with the twins, I find that hard to believe. Drink your coffee." There was a moment of silence. "I'm surprised they let you come here dressed like that."
She grimaced, fully aware of what she would see in the mirror. She was dressed in black cargos and an oversized hoodie she had nabbed from Hikaru's closet; hardly the proper outfit for the meeting she would be attending. Not only that, but her hair was done in nothing but a simple ponytail. She adjusted her glasses and shrugged.
"I left before either of them were awake, how else would I have intruded on your alone time in here?" She hid a smile behind her coffee cup when she caught onto the slight signs of stress in his face. "How's Renge?"
"Trying to convince me to do cosplay with her." There was a hint of fondness in his exasperated tone. "She still refuses to believe that I actually do have difficulties with sunlight."
"At least it's only sunlight now, remember high school?" Both of them shuddered at the memories that prompted, before he started digging into a pocket.
"Speaking of high school," He tossed a voodoo doll at her. "I'll give you one, free of charge. It might even stop the leech from bugging you."
"The leech?"
"It's either that or limpet."
"Now, now, be nice! I mean, she really is a nice girl... Just a little..." She paused, trying to find a kind way to put it. "Energetic."
"A complete opposite from you."
The conversation died there, and they sat together in silence because it would just hurt to say everything aloud when they knew it all already. She wanted to talk about how she still wants Kyoya, and he would tell her that at least she no longer needs him. He would like to wonder "Why Renge?", and she would tease his insecurity by pointing at his sister. They understood each other, but everything was awkward between them.
"It's Kyoya's birthday today." There was hesitance in his tone when he broached the topic.
"I know. I even have a present for him. I guess I can save money on shipping and handling this year."
"You two still keep in touch?"
"Just the occasional exchange: you know, the big days: birthdays, Christmas, Valentines and White day, the day he graduated."
"Aa..."
There was another half hour of companionable silence before she spoke, her voice quiet, but confident.
"Nekozawa, I'm glad Renge chose you."
He smiled, and answered her outright; Renge had been their entire reason for communication during Haruhi's time in high school.
"I'm glad to be your friend, too."
Fifteen minutes later, the rest of the board entered, chatting amongst themselves as they took their seats. None of the members absorbed Haruhi's outfit until she stood to explain the changes she had gotten approved for the contract. Nekozawa wished he had had a camera on hand.
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: It's starting to roll... Still looking for anyone willing to beta for me~! ...*makes up a summary on the spot*
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 Paris, the when is Haruhi's now, and the trouble has already been brewing.
Part one | Part two
"You're Haruhi Fujioka, right?"
Haruhi stops and glances at the girl. The meeting is finished and she had been heading to the elevators, determined to change into more comfortable clothing, until the girl stopped her. She takes in the girl's dirty blond locks, green eyes, and the fan in her hand. She is also, Haruhi notes with some envy, dressed casually in a pair of vintage Scorpion Rock & Republic jeans and a Diesel shirt. Pushing a stray lock of hair from her face, the girl blushes a little under Haruhi's scrutiny.
"Yes, I am," Haruhi replies. Something about the girl is familiar, and recognition dawns in her mind just before the girl's blush fades and a wide, friendly grin lights up her eyes.
"Oh! I'm Alice Nakajima and it's so good to finally meet you." The girl is gushing as she impetuously grabs Haruhi's hand. "I mean, Kyoya-san hardly has any pictures of his friends, and the only ones I've seen are the ones Suoh-kun shows me. And of course most of those are of him in high school, which makes me think that, aside from Kuze-san and Mitsuyama-chan, well, most of his friends were in the Host Club. And you're the only one I hadn't met yet!"
It takes quite a bit of self control for Haruhi to hold back a grimace; the girl is too genuine and sugary sweet for Kyoya. While that might be what he likes in Alice, she hardly thinks that she must be held subject to such energy. Haruhi has more than enough patience to tolerate it, but she prefers to steer clear of such headache-spawning energies. Besides, the girl is too bright, too blond, and too anything for Haruhi to handle at the moment, especially after that meeting. All Haruhi wants is tea, a sandwich, and decent clothes.
"And," the girl continues, oblivious to Haruhi's discomfort, as her speech slows and a blush paints itself becomingly onto her cheeks. "Well, I want to know Kyoya-san's friends. It will make marriage that much easier, ne?"
"His eclectic choice in friends might give you a bit of insight." Haruhi's replies, tone flat. At Alice's surprised glance, she drops her suitcase and rubs at her temple.
"You must be here for Kyoya-san's birthay!" Alice squeezes her hand, and Haruhi tries not to wince at the girl's assumption. Controlling her tone, the exhausted lawyer decided to cut her losses and let the girl make her own assumptions.
"Look, Nakajima, I mean no offense, but I just got out of a five hour meeting that cut through lunch and not only am I hungry, I'm in a color that I'm not particularly fond of. We can meet later, I know Renge has both our information."
"O-oh, sure." Alice drops her hand, and Haruhi recollects her suitcase and turns to continue her walk to the elevators.
"You haven't changed, Haruhi." The voice is familiar, and tickles her ears as they walk past each other. She hears something rattling and reflexively raises her hand in time to intercept, then fumble with whatever Kyoya had thrown at her. She is almost elated when she recognizes the tea blend, and instructions to a nearby cafe.
"Thanks, Kyoya." Her headache builds and she knows he's either laughing or disappointed that she refuses to look at him. She pushes the button for the elevator and, in the time she has to think, resolutely ignores the resounding ac--
The doors slip open, and she is more than happy to walk in and let them close behind her.
~=+=~
Haruhi walked into the conference room with the confident expectation that it would be empty. It was an apt belief, considering that she had arrived several hours before the meeting was scheduled to begin. It was also extremely early, enough so that the only person she had seen in the office was one tired secretary. So it was quite understandable that she was shocked to come across her (sort of) friend. He was disgustingly awake, and took one glance at her before walking to the coffee carafe. Maybe, if she were lucky, he would let her sleep the day away at the conference table. With that bright thought, she dumped her briefcase and slumped into a chair.
"You look like shit, Haruhi."
"Thanks, Nekozawa, you have no idea how much my ego needed that."
She shot him an annoyed glance before dropping her head back into her arms. Two days had passed since she had seen Kyoya, though his fiancee continued to trail her. A thud, and a slight scraping sound pushed something hot against her hands, and she reflexively grabbed the cup. The rich scent of hazelnut coffee hit her nose, and she found more than enough energy to push herself back into a sitting position.
"Considering that you've been living with the twins, I find that hard to believe. Drink your coffee." There was a moment of silence. "I'm surprised they let you come here dressed like that."
She grimaced, fully aware of what she would see in the mirror. She was dressed in black cargos and an oversized hoodie she had nabbed from Hikaru's closet; hardly the proper outfit for the meeting she would be attending. Not only that, but her hair was done in nothing but a simple ponytail. She adjusted her glasses and shrugged.
"I left before either of them were awake, how else would I have intruded on your alone time in here?" She hid a smile behind her coffee cup when she caught onto the slight signs of stress in his face. "How's Renge?"
"Trying to convince me to do cosplay with her." There was a hint of fondness in his exasperated tone. "She still refuses to believe that I actually do have difficulties with sunlight."
"At least it's only sunlight now, remember high school?" Both of them shuddered at the memories that prompted, before he started digging into a pocket.
"Speaking of high school," He tossed a voodoo doll at her. "I'll give you one, free of charge. It might even stop the leech from bugging you."
"The leech?"
"It's either that or limpet."
"Now, now, be nice! I mean, she really is a nice girl... Just a little..." She paused, trying to find a kind way to put it. "Energetic."
"A complete opposite from you."
The conversation died there, and they sat together in silence because it would just hurt to say everything aloud when they knew it all already. She wanted to talk about how she still wants Kyoya, and he would tell her that at least she no longer needs him. He would like to wonder "Why Renge?", and she would tease his insecurity by pointing at his sister. They understood each other, but everything was awkward between them.
"It's Kyoya's birthday today." There was hesitance in his tone when he broached the topic.
"I know. I even have a present for him. I guess I can save money on shipping and handling this year."
"You two still keep in touch?"
"Just the occasional exchange: you know, the big days: birthdays, Christmas, Valentines and White day, the day he graduated."
"Aa..."
There was another half hour of companionable silence before she spoke, her voice quiet, but confident.
"Nekozawa, I'm glad Renge chose you."
He smiled, and answered her outright; Renge had been their entire reason for communication during Haruhi's time in high school.
"I'm glad to be your friend, too."
Fifteen minutes later, the rest of the board entered, chatting amongst themselves as they took their seats. None of the members absorbed Haruhi's outfit until she stood to explain the changes she had gotten approved for the contract. Nekozawa wished he had had a camera on hand.