An Overlap of Coincidence

An Overlap of Coincidence
Part Four

Despite Kyouya's almost lapse in composure and the near-heart attack brought about by his revelation, the club still attended their vacation. And Kyouya, never one to bow down to circumstances, figured that there was at least one way to salvage the situation. If Tamaki “liked” him then Kyouya had no choice but to face the problem head first and straightforwardly.

First, he had to sort out his own feelings. Which should’ve been simple but emerged rather complex. Tamaki was his friend. And if Kyouya wanted to be honest, something like his first true friend. One who hadn't been after Kyouya for his connections. Tamaki was the first to see Kyouya and not the persona that Kyouya had built for himself.

So yes, there was affection of a sort there. Kyouya cared for Tamaki in a way he knew he’d never care for another person. But was it romance? Was it loving affection? Was it something that would lead to kissing – of all things – and groping. And dear gods, the idea of trying to do something erotic with the perpetually naïve Tamaki broke Kyouya's brain a little bit.

Yet, all of that was nil if Kyouya didn't hold the interest to pursue Tamaki in return.

Did it have to be Tamaki?

A part of Kyouya was still stuck on that point. In the end, it’d been Tamaki, and he never would have guessed it. In fact, Tamaki was only one rung up from the bottom of his list. Kyouya's absolute last guess had been Honey-senpai.

Kyouya sighed to himself. This was complicated, and it only worsened the more he watched Tamaki. Trying to discern the absolute truth for himself. And now that he thought to watch, some of the blond's actions were rather suspect.

Take this very moment for instance.

They had arrived in Hokkaido without fuss. Though the lateness of their arrival determined that they only had time to change before settling down to dinner, something all of their hungry bellies didn't seem to mind. Tamaki was of course fussing over Haruhi in her Hitachiin-gifted yukata with her patiently bearing the brunt of his attention.

Someday, Kyouya would have to ask her to teach him how she handled someone like Tamaki –and her father by proxy as they were quite similar indeed – so flawlessly. He had the feeling it was the kind of tactic that might help him take over the world. If he were so inclined.

“Just keep your filthy hands off my precious daughter!” Tamaki declared, voice loud but not enough to disturb the other patrons thankfully. He attempted a stern look. But really, in the face of the Hitachiin twins, it failed miserably.

“What if she wants us to touch her?” the twins asked in stereo. Expressions of devilish intent echoed on identical faces.

Kyouya exhaled and let their usual debate wash over and through him, noticing that Haruhi held the same placid expression. She wouldn't involve herself in the usual repartee between Hitachiin and Suoh unless they dragged her into it. In fact, it was much the same tactic that Kyouya had learned to adapt.

Instead, he enjoyed his meal in silence, noting that the others enjoyed themselves as well. On the other side of Haruhi, Honey-senpai was keeping up a rather steady stream of conversation with her. And on his free hand, Mori-senpai ate steadily.

“Mother,” Tamaki whined and all but draped on Kyouya's side. “Our children won't listen to their father. What should I do?”

“You're the disciplinarian,” Kyouya answered steadily, well aware that his choice of words would only further Tamaki's madness. But honestly, when had he ever succeeded in curbing the idiocy? “Make them respect you.”

Tamaki pouted. Those big, purple eyes tried to work their puppy-like magic on Kyouya. Unfortunately, Kyouya was the most immune of their group. Even if he did give in upon occasion.

He returned his focus to his food, but something pinged on his senses. A stare that seemed to pin him down. Lifting his eyes, he caught Mori-senpai looking directly at him. He continued to eat. Yet, there was something in his gaze that sent a chill down Kyouya's spine. Not one of fear but of curiosity. He felt like a very large puzzle that Mori-senpai was attempting to decipher, only all the clues were missing. Well, most of them.

Unsure how to react, Kyouya could only return the stare. Wondering if they were playing that commoner game of staring into each other's eyes to see who would blink first. It was Mori-senpai who broke, attention snagged by Honey-senpai who dragged him into whatever story he was telling Haruhi. And with that Kyouya was released, though he couldn't shake the effect of that stare.

What had Mori-senpai been trying to say?

“Ah, that was good,” the twins said in tandem, leaning back and patting their bullies. They then looked at Kyouya. “We're bored, senpai.”

He very casually set his chopsticks across the top of his bowl. “There's a game room down the right corridor. It’s open until midnight.”

Hikaru and Kaoru slapped their palms together in a high-five. They were up from the table in a snap. It didn't take long for them to snag Haruhi from her seat, dragging her along. This of course did not sit well with Tamaki. He leapt up so quickly that the tableware rattled and a vase of flowers would’ve tipped over if not for Mori-senpai's steadying hand.

“You can't hog my precious Haruhi to yourself!” Tamaki both wailed and looked outraged.

Gazing at the idiot, Kyouya doubted just for a second that he had been the one to leave the gifts after all. He watched as Tamaki darted around the table, chasing after the laughing Hitachiin brothers and their captive. The door slammed shut behind the four, whose antics caused some of the passing guests in the hallway to giggle. Well, at least they weren't annoyed by the noise.

“Ne, Kyou-chan, wasn't there cake?” Honey-senpai asked. His eyes grew big and round and hopeful, Usa-chan clutched tightly under one arm.

Kyouya dabbed at his mouth with his napkin before folding it and setting it beside his plate. “Yes, Honey-senpai. There is a dessert cart that will come by shortly.”

“I can't wait that long,” Honey-senpai pouted and rose to his feet with the sort of energy that was only rivaled by their lord’s exuberance. “I'll just find it myself.”

And with that, Honey-senpai departed as well. Skipping out the door in search of the dessert cart and its assortment of treats.

Kyouya should’ve known better to expect some kind of relaxing vacation. He rose to his feet, taking a moment to stretch out his limbs and patting down his own yukata for visible wrinkles. He couldn't very well leave the idiots on their own. Who knew how much property damage would ensue? Or if they would disturb the other guests?

As the only one remaining, Mori-senpai followed Kyouya's example and rose to his own feet. Kyouya remembered as he moved around the table the strange look Mori-senpai had given him earlier. As if his grey eyes had been trying to bore through Kyouya's own. Of all the club, Mori-senpai had always been the most unreadable and now was no exception.

“It would be nice to have a quiet dinner for once,” Kyouya commented offhandedly, though he knew such a thing were impossible. And he had to admit that a part of him enjoyed the liveliness associated with their club. It was very different from the cold, business-like dinners at the Ootori manor.

“Impossible,” Mori-senpai agreed in his normal manner.

“At least two of us have some sense,” Kyouya added as he headed for the door. In the process, he passed by Mori-senpai who hadn't moved once he rose to his feet.

But a hand snagged Kyouya's arm and he halted, surprised by the action.

“Kyouya.”

Confusion overrode everything else. Kyouya turned, a question on his lips. And just like that, Mori-senpai was there. Barely a foot separated them, if that. It was his hand on Kyouya's arm. Not that he hadn't already assumed that. And as he watched, Mori-senpai's free hand lifted, fingers gently grasping his chin.

“It’s not Tamaki,” Mori-senpai said simply, gaze resolute.

Before Kyouya could think to interpret that statement, Mori-senpai closed the distance between them. Bringing with him that wild, woodsy scent. His lips descended over Kyouya's in a warm, chaste kiss that he hadn't expected at all. Kyouya found himself frozen, unable to react. Even as the flood of warmth traveled from their point of contact and down through his body like being covered in a thick blanket.

The kiss ended as quickly as it began. Vestal and warm. Leaving Kyouya to meet steady, grey eyes with surprise. Mori-senpai said nothing else. Just looked at him as he dropped his hold on Kyouya and walked sedately from the room. As if kissing his underclassmen and fellow club member were something he did every day of the week and there was nothing unusual about it. Not at all.

Kyouya stared at his back and after that, the closed door to the room that had used for dining. He stood and stared for a time that lasted much longer than logic dictated it should.

It hadn't been Tamaki; Kyouya had been wrong. It hadn't been Tamaki. And for the first time in his life, Kyouya was glad that he'd been wrong. But Mori-senpai? The very same person who rarely noticed anyone outside of his cousin?

In all his calculations, in all his observations, in all his facts, Kyouya wouldn’t have come to this conclusion. And that fact bothered him. That he had never seen it coming; that he hadn't even noticed at all. That somehow, this little detail had completely escaped him.

Well, not so little if he thought about it.

Kyouya lifted a hand, touching his lips.

Not so little detail at all.

*****

a/n: Four more parts to go! Just waiting on my beta to shuttle them back to me. Hope you enjoyed!