40by sanzo-reload
Disclaimer : Ouran High School Host Club is not mine and will never be mine! I'm doing this for my own amusement, not for money. The excerpt of the song that I used for this chapter belong entirely to UVERworld.
Note : Anyway, thanks for anyone who reviewed the previous chapter : , ., SierralaineWalsh, kpy424, Kei-Ten, bringme2life, Kana090, Yoru Inu, Kanika Meskhenet, Gothic-Cherry-Blossom, bloody kyoko, Sakimi1014, Arugula Pacioli, Ordinary magic, starfishie, reiraa, black ennui, and Miorochi.
Note : This chapter started after maybe 2 and ½ year since the last chapter. Haruhi, Yukiya, Hikaru, Kaoru, Riku and Kasumi are becoming college freshman.
(track01) Just Melody
"It's melody, gather up the lost pieces of your heart
So that someday you can laugh again, yeah
Just melody, you really have a gentle, innocent smile
I'll always protect it
You are my song
And I'll be with you
Friends will be friends
Forever and ever together"
- Just Melody (UVERworld)
xoxoxoxoxo
Tokyo, Japan
Sunday, 1.30 pm
(Yukiya POV)
"God, you're like the most impossible person that could ever exist on Earth!" I yelled angrily as I stomped into the limo. I heard he chuckled behind me as he too climbed into the limo. "Narita Airport, please.." I said to the driver.
I glared at him and crossed my arms angrily. "This is so NOT funny, Kyouya! You knew that Haruhi is going to France today, and yet, you still scheduled a meeting with some random German company."
"Kriezrieg Ltd. is hardly a random company, Yukiya. It's one of the biggest construction companies in Europe, if you recall," he reminded me.
"Well, I would've known that if I actually can understand what you guys were talking about earlier. For goodness sake, would it hurt you to hire a translator?" I riposted.
He smirked. "I was assuming that you can speak German."
I snorted. "Who in the world speak German? Not everybody is like you! You speak 13 languages for heaven's sake. I have enough difficulties learning English!"
"Does that make it my fault?"
I sighed. "What did I do to deserve this kind of treatment?"
"If you have enough time to whine, you might as well go through the financial report from last month while I am still here," he said, throwing a folder onto my lap.
"Why can't we have a conversation without talking about work once in while?" I grumbled to myself as I placed the folder beside me. I then pressed a small switch at the side of door. A partition came sliding down between the driver and us. Then, I picked up a small bag underneath my seat and pulled out a pair of jeans and a tank top.
"What's that for?" he asked, glancing up from the stack of papers on his laps.
I didn't answer him; instead, I just turned my back to him. "I'm changing. Unzip my dress."
"Is that an appropriate thing to ask a guy?"
I raised my eyebrows at him. "You don't want to help me? Fine, I can ask the driver to-"
Almost immediately, he pulled me closer to him. I suddenly regretted my decision as I felt his fingers fumbled with the zip. I stiffened as I felt his hands suddenly caressed my back. "Nervous?" he teased.
"Wh.. What? Yes.. I mean, no! How long does it take for you to unzip a dress anyway?!" I spluttered angrily.
I felt he leaned against my back, his breath tickling my ears as he whispered, "Wouldn't we all want to know that?"
"PERVERT!" I yelled as I scooted as far away as I can from him.
"I'm just kidding, Yukiya," he said, laughing at my antic.
"Well, it's not funny," I replied, deadpanned. "Your sense of humor is deteriorating. I'll be worried if I were you, Kyouya."
"Come here.." he motioned for me to come closer to him. Strangely enough, I couldn't find any energy to resist him; I scooted closer to him and turned around for him to work on my zip again.
"Are you doing okay in Dartmouth?" I questioned just to fill the awkward silence between us.
My heart beat faster as I felt he leaned against my back again, this time, he rested his chin against my shoulder with his arms wrapped around my waist. "If you're so worried, why don't you just come with me? That way, I don't need to come back every weekend. That would definitely save me a lot of troubles."
I bit my lips nervously. "You came back every week for me?"
"What do you think I came back for?"
"Work?"
"I can work from there if I wanted to," he replied, a slight hint of amusement was apparent in his voice. "Your grandmother doesn't mind that."
"Oh."
"Oh?"
"Yeah, oh," I repeated uncomfortably. "Grandmother wants me to stay in Tokyo for the time being. It's easier for me to take over the company that way."
I heard he sighed as he pushed himself away from me. "You can change now," he said as he finally unzipped my dress.
I nodded stiffly. "Okay, thanks."
xoxoxoxoxo
Narita Airport, Japan
Sunday, 2 pm
(Haruhi POV)
"Haru-chan, don't go!" Hunny-senpai whined as he cling himself onto my legs.
I rolled my eyes. "I don't see the big deal here, Hunny-senpai. You can always go and visit me there."
He paused. "Ha You're right! Ne, Takashi, let's go to France now!"
"Wait! I mean that you can go afte-"
Hunny sobbed. "Haru-chan, you don't like me anymore?"
I sighed. "Fine."
"Wai We're going to France.. We're going to France.. We're going to France.." he danced, while dragging Mori-senpai to the ticket counter.
"Haruhi, I checked-in your luggage already. Do you have your passport with you? Travelling commoner-style is so much fun!" Tamaki-senpai said, flailing his passport around. "Ah, baka otoko! What're you trying to do asking for my daughter's passport, huh?" my dad appeared out of nowhere and plunged toward Tamaki-senpai to strangle him.
"Haruhi, help me" Tamaki-senpai pleaded, giving me a puppy-dog eyes as he was flattened to the floor.
I turned around and pretended to see nothing. There was nothing much I can do anyway once my dad started his maniac 'protect-the-daughter-no-matter-what-happen' phase.
"Haruhi!" I heard Yukiya's shout from afar. She was running wildly, Kyouya-senpai was walking calmly behind her. I waved at the both of them.
"Thank goodness, we managed to catch you!" Yukiya said in between her pants.
I raised my eyebrows questioningly at Kyouya-senpai who was wearing a black tux. "Were you guys on a date or something?"
Yukiya shook her head furiously. "God, no! This guy here actually scheduled a meeting this morning. I really thought I would miss your flight for sure," she answered.
"I'm surprised that you took up the offer from Suou Family. I would've thought that you're just going to stay in Japan," Kyouya-senpai said.
"Honestly, it's not a bad offer. Or else, I wouldn't have taken it."
Kyouya nodded. "True. I can't think of any other disadvantages except the fact that you need to deal with the idiotic Tamaki."
I laughed. "Exactly. But after wasting the three years of my high school life with him, I think I can deal with it."
"Kyouya… Help me"
The Shadow King heaved a deep breath. "I think I should do something about that," he said, casting a glance toward Tamaki-senpai who was now wrestled to the ground by my dad. Mori-senpai and Hunny-senpai were nowhere in sight. Hunny-senpai was probably getting distracted by some candy stores or something.
Yukiya suddenly grabbed my hands and started to jump jubilantly. "So, tell me. How do you feel about studying at France? Excited?"
I shrugged. "I think Tamaki-senpai's excitement of me going to France is more than enough to cover for the both of us," I answered nonchantly. "I'm surprised that you rejected the offer from Dartmouth. I would've thought you wanted to go to the same university as Kyouya-senpai's."
She gave me a bitter smile. "Yeah, I know. I'm surprised by my own decision too," she paused for a moment before continuing. "Where's Hikaru and Kaoru? And Kasumi-chan? Aren't they coming?"
"Hikaru changed his schedule at the last minute. He went to New York yesterday morning. I didn't get to see him off either."
Yukiya frowned. "Oh, really? What happened?"
I shrugged. "Something about helping out with his mother's photoshoot."
"I'll call him later. Then, how about Kaoru and Kasumi-chan? Kaoru hasn't left for Chicago, right?"
"They're coming la-"
"Hey guys!" Kaoru greeted, walking hand in hand with Kasumi.
"You guys just came back from a date, aren't you?" Yukiya gave the couple a suspicious glance.
"Newsflash, Yukiya. We're a couple. There's really nothing wrong with going out for a date," Kaoru defended. "In fact, it's rather strange if we didn't."
"No, what's weird is that how you guys can stare into each others eyes every single time when you guys were left alone," Yukiya debated. "Well, now that I think about it, it was just downright creepy. Even for your standard, Kaoru."
I laughed.
"Take care, Haruhi-chan," Kasumi said, her eyes were brimming with tears. "You're going to come back to see me again, right?"
"Don't you have Kaoru to accompany you if you're lonely?" I said jokingly.
She sulked at my joke. "You know that no one can replace you, Haruhi-chan."
I laughed. "I hope so," I responded, pulling her for a quick friendly hug. "I'm going to miss you."
"Flight number A67478 to Paris, France. Flight is now ready to board. Passengers can now go to Gate 6."
"That's my call," I said, picking up my messenger bag and slung it against my shoulder. "Dad, don't you think that's enough? We need to go now," I directed my glare toward my dad. In an instant, he froze and reluctantly, he let Tamaki-senpai free from his clutches.
After exchanging thousands of goodbyes and hugs with my dad, I gave my friends a last glance before I turned around and walked toward the boarding.
This is it, Haruhi. There is no turning back now.
I didn't even realize that I was panting so hard until Tamaki-senpai whispered into my ears. "Relax, Haruhi. We can always come back here," he said as he took my hands into his. Weirdly enough, I found myself calming down.
Surely, everything will be alright.
xoxoxoxoxo
New York, USA
Sunday, 9.30 am
(Hikaru POV)
"Yes, Kaoru. I'll ask her that when I get to see her. Satisfied?" I growled into my cellphone as my twin brother, who has been pestering me since yesterday morning (right before I got into the flight), to ask Riku and her bandmates to perform at his nonexistent engagement party.
"Don't blame me when she bites your head off once she sees you," I gave a fair warning as I heard him chuckled at the other end of the line before he hung up the phone. I swore that he was getting way too ahead of himself for planning for something that won't happen for another five years. He didn't even know if the girl is going to say yes, for heaven's sake!
I went into the kitchen and pour some cereals into a bowl. Settling myself on the leather couch in the center of the living room of my new apartment in New York, I stared at the boxes scattered all over the place. I grimaced at the sight. Suddenly, I regretted my decision of rejecting mom's offer to get a maid for my place.
Beep.. Beep..
I felt my phone vibrated again. Flipping my phone open, I was ready to yell at Kaoru for calling me and ruining my Sunday morning before I realized that it was just a reminder.
Mom's Fall campaign photoshoot.
New York, Sunday, 10am
I smirked to myself. "I guess unpacking needs to wait," I muttered as I grabbed my BMW car key and headed toward the door.
I settled into the driver's seat, plugged the handsfree into my ears and quickly dialed Riku's numbers.
After a few ring, she finally picked up. "Hey.." her voice sounded exhausted.
"Hey, there. I'm on my way to go to the studio. Mind telling me the way there?"
"You know where the NYU Engineering Department is?"
I nodded. "Yup."
"It's nowhere near there."
I sighed. "Riku, stop kidding around. Give me the real direction, okay?"
I heard her grumbled. I knew how much she hated me to be anywhere near photoshoot that involved her. "Don't you have someone else to pester? It's bad enough to face the fact that I need to see you practically everyday in NYU," she replied, obviously getting annoyed. "Dammit, stop shoving that thing into my face!" I heard her yell to, I assume, one of the stylists.
"Mom is gonna kill me if I bother her on her second most important day of her life."
"Ask you girlfriend, then," she retorted.
"Gosh, Riku. We haven't talked for a while, so I thought we can play catch-up game after you finish with the photoshoot."
"No, thanks," she breathed out, before adding, "Spare me the trouble of having to convince your girlfriend that I'm not dating you."
"Is Erika there?" I asked.
"Yeah, of course she is," she replied and paused. "Wait a freaking minute. Don't tell me that you're bored with her already."
"I think I may need to end everything today," I answered, smiling to myself. "She's there, you're there. Isn't this just perfect?"
"You better be kidding me, Hikaru. I refuse to be the scapegoat again!" she yelled. "I still receive your ex-girlfriends hate letters until now; don't you think you gave me enough misery to deal with?"
"Oh, come on. It wasn't that bad."
"I just talked to you for less than a minute and you're already asking me to help you breaking another poor girl's heart and not to mention, reducing the number of working model in your mom's agency. Huh, forget it!"
"So, are you ever going to tell me the direction to the studio?"
"No," she replied solemnly, and before I managed to come up with a riposte, she hung up on me.
I shook my head in amusement. "I wonder how someone so small has that much temper stored in it," I mumbled to myself.
xoxoxoxoxo
Celeste Studio, New York, USA
Sunday, 10 am
(Riku POV)
Angrily, I closed my phone. Stupid Hikaru!
What did I look like to him? A personal slave?
I grunted in anger. He always made me angry; I wonder why I stayed with him despite all that.
It's because you love him, idiot!
I leaned back against the chair in the dressing room. "Please don't move, Miss Eihara," the hairstyler instructed.
"I'm so stupid," I muttered, after sitting straight in the chair.
"Boy problem?" she asked.
My eyes widened as I stared at her through the reflection in the mirror. "How did you know?"
"Nobody sighs as much as you do, dear," she gave me a warm smile. "I lived long enough to know that a boy must be involved."
"You're really somethi-"
"RIKU!"
Almost automatically, I jumped out of my chair. I turned around to see Hikaru standing at the doorway.
"Gosh, Hikaru. Are you trying to kill me?"
He laughed. "I'll be disappointed if you die because of this."
I rolled my eyes. "You really hate me, don't you?"
"I wouldn't be here if I do, Riku," he said smoothly as he walked up to me and gave me a friendly peck on the cheek.
"HIKARU-CHI!"
I cringed at the high-pitched scream. I saw Hikaru made a disgusted face before the brunette girl plunged toward him and pulled him for a passionate kiss.
I stepped back and focused my vision on the floor. It was bad enough to be in the same room as Erika, I really don't need to see her making out with Hikaru.
"What are you doing here, honey?" Erika overly-saccharine voice sang. Before Hikaru managed to answer, she interrupted. "Oh, who cares? Let me show you my dressing room," she said excitedly, dragging the uninterested Hikaru with her while giving me an obvious glare.
Hikaru gave me a help-me look, but I just shrugged in respond, mouthing the word 'sorry, can't help' to him.
Suddenly feeling exhausted, I sat back down on the chair. "Sorry about that," I said to the hairdresser as she started to work on my hair again.
I stared at the mirror and sighed.
"There you again," she teased as she placed a clip in my hair.
I laughed. "Oh God, I didn't even realize!"
"Does he worth it?"
"Huh?"
"The boy you're obsessing over with, it's him right?" she said, obviously referring to Hikaru. "Do you think he's worth it?"
I bit my lips. "I don't know," I paused. "The funny thing is that I knew that I don't have a chance with him, but.." my words trailed off.
"Part of you still hoping that one day he wakes up and realizes that you're the one?" she continued.
I grinned shyly. "Silly, isn't it?"
"From where I'm standing, I'll say that it's his loss, not yours, honey," she comforted me. "Never let a guy made you feel that you're worthless."
I nodded, fiddling with the hem of my shirt. "Thanks."
"Want me to mess a bit with that Erika girl's hair?" she asked with a naughty grin. "Say, I think I might be able to give her a split ends or two."
I chuckled. "How do you think she'll look like with green hair?" I asked, giving her a suggestive grin.
"I can work with that."
I laughed. "Can't wait."
xoxoxoxoxo
Narita Airport, Japan
Sunday, 2.30 pm
(Yukiya POV)
I stared at the back of Tamaki-senpai and Haruhi as they walked through the gate. After the plane took off, we parted with the happy couple – Kaoru and Kasumi. I really envied the couple – being able to be so affectionate to each other – be like a normal couple.
"Do you think Tamaki-senpai finally has enough courage to make move on her once they're in France? After all, Haruhi's dad is not going to be there."
Kyouya shrugged. "He's an idiot. I doubt he even thought of that."
I shook my head in disbelief. "Hey, that's not nice."
"Since when have I ever been nice?"
"Good point," I replied, chuckling. "So, should we go back to main house?"
"I'm going back to Dartmouth now," he stated. He pulled his cell out of his pocket and dialed some number. "The helicopter is ready, right?" I saw him nodded a couple of times before hanging up the call.
I stared at him. "You're going now? But you just got here yesterday night," I said, barely able to hide my disappointment.
"I have class tomorrow, Yukiya. And so do you," he reminded me.
"Oh, okay, I guess," I said as my gaze fell to the floor. I averted my gaze back to Kyouya, waiting for him to say something, but was instead met with a pair of lips. I closed my eyes as I felt his lips brushed lightly across mine.
Okay it wasn't really a kiss, but oh god…it made my heart beat increase dramatically.
"You might want to do that again. I think I'm a bit hazy just now," I said, confidence appearing out of nowhere. I was flirting and he was amused. Nonetheless, he complied. This time it wasn't just a fleeting brush. It was a real kiss, and it lasted for…oh, I don't know how long, because I wasn't really counting. My head was too far up in the clouds to manage something as logical as that.
When we broke off, we were both grinning. Okay, I was grinning and he was smirking. Stupid, smug bastard.
"Do you think you can manage a week without that?" he asked, still smirking.
"I think I should be the one asking you," I scoffed and a mischievous glint appeared in his eyes. I allowed him to prove me wrong as he bent down and took my lips again. I couldn't help it that my knees felt weak when he deepened the kiss.
When we finally broke apart, he smirked.
"Fine, you proven your point," I sulked. "I guess, I'll just see you next week, then."
He nodded and lifted my chin up with his fingers. "Don't push yourself too hard."
"I know," I replied. "You too. Don't let my grandmother pushes you around."
"You know I won't."
I smiled as I tiptoed and gave him a brief peck on the lips. I watched him go until he disappeared into the crowd of people.
I sighed as I felt my cell vibrated.
"Hello, Mikihara speaking."
xoxoxoxoxo
Authoress note : So sorry for the late update. Like usual, I'm burdened by my summer class as well as the preparation for my upcoming trip to Florida. Yaay me!
Hope that the next chapter will be out faster than this one, but then again, don't expect too much. I am after all, a slow writer.