Adult-FanFiction.org : Anime

It's Just Good Business	By : Desert_Mango Category: +M to R > Ouran High Host Club Views: 13254 -:- Recommendations : 0 -:- Currently Reading : 2
Disclaimer: I do not own Ouran High School Host Club, nor the characters from it. I do not make any money from the writing of this story.

Chapter List
- 10
- 11
- 12
Chapter Eleven: “Identifying Skills”
Silence had to be one of Kyoya’s favorite things. No matter where he was or what he was doing, knowing there was nothing but silence around him always made it easier to think and focus. Or sometimes, get lost and drift. Today though it was think and focus. After all, these supplies were not going to count themselves.
A free class the last period of the day had Kyoya standing in the Host Club’s store closet, clipboard in hand as he went through a very long list of items and took inventory of what they needed. It was a boring, tedious task but one that the teen did not mind. Things around the host club had been hectic lately, leaving little to no time for such a chore. A quick glance over the paper in his hand confirmed they were running quite low on a number of things. Seemed a shopping trip would be in order very soon.
Exhaling a slow sigh Kyoya returned the box of napkins he had been counting back to the shelf, and took a moment to slip the glasses from his eyes. The darkness behind his lids was comforting, and he enjoyed it for several seconds. It was the sound of a throat being cleared that ripped him back to reality, and he swallowed down his growl as he opened his eyes and replaced those silver frames.
“I thought I would find you here.” Tamaki’s voice was low and much more somber then it usually was. “Since you weren’t in either the club room or the library.”
The princely blond stood in the storerooms open doorway, one hip propped against the frame with his hands tucked into the front pockets of his pants. An un-buttoned baby blue jacket hung off his shoulders, the tie around his neck loosened. All in all, it was a casual look; and something rarely seen on Tamaki within the school walls.
Kyoya took in his guest with an unwavering gaze for a few moments, before returning to his task at hand with a shallow sigh. “I was not aware you were looking for me. Should I be flattered or scared?”
Tamaki seemed to ponder over this question for a few seconds before giving the other teen an elegant shrug. “You tell me.” Falling into silence the host club king watched his best friend count boxes of sugar cubes before sighing gently. “What’s the damage this time?”
Silently thankful for the change in conversation, Kyoya pursed his lips then answered. “More than it usually is. But that’s to be expected, given how long it’s been since we last restocked.”
Seeming content with this answer Tamaki gave a small nod. In truth he really didn’t care about their club expenses right now. It was just something else to think about other than the main reason he’d been eagerly searching for the raven haired teen. When it was clear Kyoya was not going to say anything else, Tamaki swallowed down his sigh and stepped in to close the distance between them.
Kyoya stopped writing the second he felt the pads of Tamaki’s lean fingers press against his wrist. He had been too pre-occupied in his job to realize the blond had moved; so finding Tamaki now as close as he was, was a surprise. Lensed eyes hovered on those slender, elegant fingers perhaps longer then they should have before slowly drifting up to meet that amethyst gaze. The tip of Kyoya’s tongue danced quickly over his dry lips, and when he spoke his voice was soft and hushed. “What do you want, Tamaki?”
A light breath of air moved between the other’s lips, a small frown to follow. “Do you ever stop working, Kyoya?"
There was no way Kyoya could miss the genuine concern that filled those kind spoken words. He’d been friends with the other boy long enough to know that Tamaki wore his heart on his sleeve, no matter what the situation. It was not the first time for Kyoya that he had been on the receiving end of such worry. Yet somehow, this time felt different. Perhaps it was the fact they were standing so close together in a room that left little space for movement. Or maybe it was the fact that Tamaki still had not withdrawn his warm fingers from where they rested against Kyoya’s wrist. Whatever it was, it made the dark haired teen feel as though he were about to be engaged in a game where he did not know all the rules, and Tamaki called the shots. Not a place Kyoya wanted to be, if he could avoid it.
“Tamaki.” He spoke his friend’s name with a gentle, yet firm tone. “We all have our skills. Yours is dreaming, mine is keeping order.”
A faint smile parted Tamaki’s lips in response to those words. “I think you have more skills then that, my friend.” Kyoya’s mouth opened and Tamaki cut his unspoken words off quickly. “Lately I have heard some very interesting conversations.”
One eyebrow rose over the rim of those glasses, and Kyoya actually found himself speechless. Conversations? About what? Involving who? Had their after-hours services leaked out? Once the questions started it was difficult to stop them; each one seemed to lead into another. However, with no voice it was impossible to speak any of them. So instead he stood there, brow arched and eyed Tamaki with a mixed look of surprise and disbelief.
Seeing the state of his friend, Tamaki quickly shook his head. “It’s nothing like that Kyoya. Do you really think I would be standing here if it was?” After a moment Kyoya relaxed slightly, so Tamaki continued. “It would seem that Haruhi is quite the hot topic of conversation.”
Haruhi… Just the sound of her name made Kyoya want to blush; and he fought with himself to keep the crimson off his cheeks. Even though it had been several days past, he was still unable to shake the shame of his shower actions to thoughts of the slender teen. Sure, masturbation was natural for teen boys, but not to one of his club mates. Kyoya had always prided himself on being able to keep his personal life out of his sexual inspiration.
Kyoya's silence was all the confirmation that Tamaki needed that his friend understood. Pulling back his hand the blond eyed his fingernails a moment while he gathered his next thoughts, then spoke. "Those lessons must have been quite useful. I have not heard a single bad thing being said about our little girl."
"Your little girl." Corrected Kyoya quickly, fingers pushing those frames back up the bridge of his nose. "I do not share your family attachment to the members of our club." The tip of Kyoya's tongue moved swiftly over his lips and he continued. "And there was only one lesson, Tamaki. I did not see a need for a second."
Kyoya did not know why he felt inclined to correct Tamaki. While he may have been the club's King, what went on between the bespectacled teen and the debt-owing cross dresser was really none of the blond's business. In all honesty, Kyoya had surprised himself with how quickly the truth tumbled freely from his lips. Was he really that desperate to push Haruhi from his thoughts? That was an unnerving question, and one that he refused to answer for himself.
Tamaki stopped talking to process what Kyoya had just said. Apparently Haruhi was just as much the natural as they claimed to their clients she was. He found comfort in that, and in Kyoya's honesty. A single lesson meant the raven haired teen did not take advantage of her. A rare, genuine smile pulled at the corners of the blond's mouth. "I knew I'd made the right choice."
"What?" Kyoya questioned quietly; then promptly shook his head. "Actually, never mind. I don't want to know what you were just thinking." An impatient breath pushed through the teen's lips as he rolled back his shoulders, standing more to attention. "Was that all you wanted to talk about, or was there something else?"
Reaching up Tamaki brushed a strand hand of Kyoya's fringe from his eyes then smiled at his friend. "You need to remember to relax sometimes too, Kyoya. I don't want you to make yourself sick. I need you."
Kyoya blinked, caught off guard by the truth of those words then sighed heavily. "I make no promises Tamaki, but I'll see what I can do."
"Good." The smile upon the blond's lips bloomed further, his words momentarily silenced by the chiming of the last bell. "From you, that's all I ever ask."
Shaking his head to the taller teen, Kyoya set down the clipboard and pen upon the lid of a supply box. Swift fingers made good work of Tamaki's top shirt button and tie; correcting the blond's uniform back to its rightful state. "Come on. We have guests to see to. The rest of this can wait."
"Thank you." Stated Tamaki kindly; and Kyoya felt that was in relation to both his actions; and the conversation.
***
Avoiding Kyoya was proving to be a harder task than Haruhi had imagined it would be. It did not seem to matter they were from separate classes and different grades - Every time she turned around he was there. In the hallways between classes, on their lunches. Sometimes he was obviously there; other times she caught him only from the corner of her eye as they passed en route to important places. They never said a word to one another outside of the required pleasantries. Most of the time they did not need to speak. The look in his eyes indicated he wanted to ignore her as much as she did him. Something Haruhi was all too happy to comply with. However, it did not help that not only was she encountering him physically, but getting him off her mind was quickly becoming a near-impossible task. The worst part to all of this was the fact that the little brunette could not understand why.
Her client session was over, and had been for several days. There was no logical reason to explain why her brain kept tormenting her with thoughts and memories of the older and much wealthier teen. It was quickly getting to the point that school work and chores were providing little to no distraction from the torment. It did not seem to matter the task she attempted to focus on, Kyoya Ootori would always find a way to infiltrate her thoughts.
Just thinking about him now forced a heavy sigh to her lips, which she was prompt to hold back. After all, the Host Club was open for business, and she did not want her current Princess to think Haruhi was bored of her. Wanting to escape her own headspace, Haruhi threw herself mentally back into the conversation, nodding and smiling at all the right places while listening to her guest discuss the finer points of how one should listen to classical music.
That, however, was a fate she was about to be saved from.
"I'm terribly sorry to interrupt, but I require a word with Haruhi - If you don't mind."
That clipped, proper tone washed over Haruhi like a bucket of ice water, and even though it was not directed at her she could not keep the chill from whipping down her spine. So much for her plan of complete avoidance. As her guest giggled and nodded to Kyoya, Haruhi pursed her lips together a moment, then slowly exhaled and rose to her feet. What she really wanted to say was that she did mind; but Haruhi knew Kyoya's comment was not an inquiry. So instead she settled for the right thing to say. "What is it, Sempai?"
He shook his head once to her, looking over Haruhi's shoulder to her waiting guest for a quick moment before meeting the first year's gaze once again. "Not here. Come with me." Not giving her a chance to reply, Kyoya turned quickly and walked towards the corner table he had claimed for his daily business.
Stopping her shoulders from slumping forward Haruhi swallowed down the weighty sigh that pushed at her lips and turned to offer her apologies to her guest. After assuring the young girl that another host would be a long in a moment Haruhi stepped away to follow the taller teen. It did not surprise her he wanted privacy for whatever he had to say. Kyoya was just that type of person. What she had not been expecting, however, was Kyoya's next move.
Now that they were far enough from prying eyes and pricked ears Kyoya stopped and turned to face the girl, withdrawing a folded piece of paper from the wide sleeve of his kimono; promptly handing it over to Haruhi. "I've put together a list of supplies needed for the club. Since it's a rather extensive list this time, I'm offering the use of my family's car after school this week for you to shop with."
With wide eyes she accepted the paper, unfolding it to skim quickly over the list. There was a lot! It was not like Kyoya to let their supplies get this low. The question rose to her lips involving asking him what had him so distracted, but Haruhi stopped herself from forming the words. That was none of her business, and really, she didn't want to know.
Refolding the paper she tucked it away safely then looked back to Kyoya. "Thank you. That is a very generous offer. Dare I ask what this is going to cost me if I accept?"
Both of Kyoya's brows shot up in instant surprise. Those were a rather bold set of words to come tumbling out of Haruhi's mouth. Of course he had known her to speak her mind, most times quite freely; but never once had that been directed towards him. Usually it was the idiotic Tamaki who received the brunt of Haruhi's direct nature. For what felt like the first time in his life Kyoya did not have the words to respond. His mouth opened and closed several times silently before he found something semi-acceptable to settle on.
"Consider this my way of saying thank you." The second year spoke smoothly, a rare genuine tone to his words. "I have heard the whispers and am pleased everything went so well for you and the lady."
"Thank you?" Haruhi echoed in question, head cocking slightly to the side. "Doing something for free is even less like you Sempai. Should I be taking you to the school nurse right now?" As the realization of his other words sunk in, her cheeks began to slowly heat. On one side she wanted to ask what he'd heard; but on the other was too embarrassed to form the words. Perhaps leaving that conversation as it is would be the best thing to do. Swallowing hard around the unspoken words that filled her throat Haruhi gave Kyoya a single nod. "I tried my best to make it as enjoyable as I could."
"I'm sure you did." Came the quiet response, Kyoya's words barely whispered against a tone of silken danger that instantly put another shiver down Haruhi's back. If he noticed the reaction he gave no indication, choosing instead to clear his throat lightly. "Now if you'll excuse me, I have a club meeting to prepare for and you have guests to see. Please let me know what day you'd like to make that errand happen, and I will ensure our car is properly prepared."
Knowing a dismissal when she received one, Haruhi gave Kyoya another small nod. "Yes Sempai, I will." Turning away she took a single step before pausing, looking back over her shoulder at him. "Thank you."
He nodded dismissively to her expression of gratitude, eyes already absorbed in the notebook he now held. Frowning slightly Haruhi once again turned away from the teen and worked her way back into the gathering of female guests that filled their club room. Over all, even she had to admit that hadn't been a bad way to break her personal goal of avoiding him like the plague.
***
"We're on a very tight schedule this evening, so I'm afraid we're going to have to keep this meeting short today. I trust this won't be a problem for everyone?"
Kyoya's voice was all business as it filled the space around the seven seated hosts. With their guests now gone they'd barely had time to change from their earlier traditional clothing before Kyoya was calling them to their usual meeting table. On the wooden surface before him stood a neat stack of white envelopes beside a much larger pile of organized client files. As his fellow hosts acknowledged his request for short and sweet, he picked up the files and began distributing them around the table.
"Here are next weeks requests. We picked up more volume than usual, so I had a difficult time with scheduling everyone in. I apologize if some of you have more than others." The look on his face was hardly apologetic as he set four files down in front of the surprised Hitachiin brothers. "I can only assume our additional packages are growing again in interest."
As he laid down Haruhi's file he found that he could not make eye contact with the girl. Thankfully he did not have to, for a soft, but firm sound from Mori drew his attention.
"I'm sorry." The older, usually silent teen spoke, closing his folder to lay it back down on the table. "I can't."
Beside Mori, Honey gave his cousin a questioning look before bringing his gaze down to the name written down the side of the file. A momentary look of sadness passed through those child-like eyes before he reached up to pat Mori on the arm in a gesture of understanding. "She has history with Takashi." Honey explained, his voice unusually calm and aged for his appearance.
Bringing his lips together Kyoya pondered this change in events. One of the rules about their extra hours activities was that any host had the right to refuse a client. At the time the rule had been made Kyoya did not think anything of it, but now he was mentally cursing it. Scheduling and volume had been difficult enough to deal with as it was; now Mori was about to make things even more complicated. Still, there was nothing the slender teen could do to force Mori to accept that client. With as much grace as he could muster Kyoya accepted defeat and reached for his laptop. Perhaps luck would be on his side and all he would need to do would be to switch client files with another host.
The spreadsheet loaded quickly under his coaxing fingers and it did not take him long to find what he was looking for. As his lensed eyes skimmed eagerly over the data before him Kyoya searched for an easy solution to the problem. Sure enough the answer was there, and the smile danced over his face as he re-checked the data. All Mori needed to do was switch files with... Haruhi.
That single name was enough to wipe the smile clean from Kyoya's features. There was no way he was going to let those two switch clients. Haruhi was not experienced enough to provide what Mori's guest was asking for! With the slow-forming dread starting to rise like bile in his stomach Kyoya frantically searched again and again through his precious schedule. The more he looked the more he came to realize there was no one else who to switch with. It was either Haruhi, or he was rescheduling the lady completely. A single puff of air pushed deeply through his lips as he attempted to keep some degree of composure in place. Never before had he rescheduled a client. He was not about to start now.
"Mori-sempai," Secretly he was proud of the way his voice did not crack or waiver around these words, "please switch your client with Haruhi."
***
A/N: Ta-da! Not the fastest update in the world, but at least now it’s done and here for your enjoyment.
It really means a lot to me that even with my sporadic updates this story is still being read and reviewed. As a writer, that is the greatest gift anyone could ever give me. Whenever I found myself struggling through the spiraling depths of blackness that is the ever-hateful writer’s block I would go re-read all those wonderful reviews that you’ve left for me. Your words of encouragement and kindness were just what I needed to pull me back.
So please, keep sharing with me your thoughts and opinions of my not-so-little project; and in return I will shower you with more chapters of Kyoya/Haruhi goodness… As soon as they’re written.
Thanks for reading!
- 10
- 11
- 12
You need to be logged in to leave a review for this story.You need to be logged in to leave a review for this story.
Report Story

It's Just Good Business