Beautiful Darkside

Kyoya took a deep breath, slipping his glasses off for a moment and rubbing his eyes. He really wasn’t a morning person, it was a shame that his life would always call for him to be up before the sun even graced the world. He huffed out a curt laugh at that thought, though he wasn’t sure why. He pushed his glasses back onto his face and tried to focus on his computer, what had he been doing again? He studied the multiple tabs and windows he had open in hopes of discerning what he should be working on… Ah, yes. He’d been looking over the Host Club’s budget for the month, doing his statistics homework, completing his English assignment and reviewing the twins’ work on the sight. He decided to check them off one at a time; the dead silence of the school at this hour always allowed him the focus he needed to get things done rapidly.

He looked at the time and couldn’t help sighing again, the clock read 6:08. Kyoya had about an hour before Tamaki arrived to discuss the budget. It was time to prioritize, budget would be last so he could have it fresh in his mind. He began with statistics, then English, then the twins’ work. It was all very simple and he got it done quickly, though he’d be having a conversation with the twins about photo shopping and its appropriate applications. Again. 6:45 now, he had more than enough time to ponder over the budget for a bit until Tamaki got here to destroy it. Kyoya honestly didn’t know how much more he could fit into this month. They’d already planned in three themed days which required brand new costumes. They were going to have to start selling off some of the older garb that was sitting useless in the back of their storage room. The Ootori stopped what he was doing and flipped open his black notebook, jotting the idea down.

Finally, everything was done. He leaned back in his chair and took a deep breath, still his posture remained. No matter how tired he was, the ravenette would never be comfortable in a suit. It meant being on guard, keeping up appearances. His best friend, of course, would only scold him for always being so formal with him at school. When Kyoya and Tamaki were at either of their homes Kyoya was a little more relaxed. His true colors showed a little better… Of course the glasses clad boy wasn’t sure why Tamaki enjoyed that so much. More often than not it just meant Kyoya got meaner, brutal honesty and cold words flowing more easily. But Tamaki basked in it, so over the years the cool jabs had sunk into their school lives as well; either provoked by Tamaki or given by Kyoya when he was feeling like instigating. Still the blond nagged him to be less formal. Soon the nagging Kyoya could here echoing in his head would be more real than he cared to think about. He closed his eyes, only for a moment blocking out the thought.

This was probably his favorite time of the day. Tamaki absolutely loved the morning; the beginning of a new day! Every morning, even if it was raining outside, he’d swing open his bedroom windows just to take in a deep breath of the morning air. Even now, as he took the steps up toward the elegant school, the Prince took in deep breaths and let the dewy morning air cling to his lungs. He didn’t understand why anyone would be opposed to mornings.

As always, there was a spring in the blond’s step as he wandered through the halls. He had the urge to run, actually. He wanted to get through the halls and up the stairs as quickly as he possibly could. He knew where he was going and he knew who was waiting for him at the end of his route. Tamaki even had to admit to himself that he had a slight obsession when it came to his best friend.

Perhaps it was simply because the boy was his first friend after moving to Japan. Tamaki was grateful for the companionship and would probably never be able to repay back that kindness that Kyoya showed him. However reluctant it may have been.

Tamaki’s heart felt like it was in his throat—the pure excitement he felt whenever he was going to see Kyoya again made him completely giddy. Which was the very reason he decided to forgo the long trek and run the rest of the way.

Two, four…six. The Eurasian took the steps two at a time. His blond bangs bounced around his indigo eyes and he even had to readjust his messenger bag as it was falling off his shoulder on his way up the stairs. Even when he got to the landing, Tamaki didn’t even take the time to catch his breath.

At least not until he burst through the pink, ostentatious doors that lead into the Third Music Room; the Ouran Host Club’s room.

“Kyo-ah-ha-ya…” Tamaki panted out while holding his side hand to his side. He raked a hand through his blond bangs very briefly to ruffle his hair back in order as he wandered over to his best friend’s side. He plopped his bag on the table and flopped himself down on one of the cushy, Host Club’s tea chairs.

“Ah..hah…Good Morning!”

Noise. Kyoya’s eyebrows furrowed as he tried to block it out, the Ootori had unwillingly nodded off into a half-sleep. His body shifted as the noise got louder… Couldn’t it just go away? His unspoken question was rudely answered as the doors to the music room burst open and jolted the sleepy boy out of his rest. Kyoya sat bolt upright in his chair, his fingers still resting delicately on his keyboard. His heart pounded… Had he been asleep? No… No, not completely, his mind wasn’t foggy enough for that. His eyes darted to the time as he adjusted his glasses. 6:57 AM. Tamaki.

Just as Kyoya put it together Tamaki’s voice rang out into the previously silent room in the form of Kyoya’s name. The ravenette blinked, and then forced himself to blink again to keep himself from jumping as a bag he knew well flopped down on the table, much the same as it’s owner flopped down in the delicate chair across from him.

Tamaki looked ruffled and he was panting. Why? Kyoya closed his eyes for a minute, re-adjusting his glasses. He was getting particularly irritated with how slow he was processing information at the moment. His eyes opened and when the ever-cheery Host King panted and puffed out a good morning everything fell into place. With a raised eyebrow Kyoya clicked over to the tab the budget was in. “Good morning Tamaki, did you have a nice run?” He smirked a bit and shook his head, “You weren’t exactly running late.” As always, no matter the time, his best friend looked bright and eccentric.

Kyoya couldn’t help but quietly admire his best friend. The social butterfly who had quickly made a name for himself aside from the one he was given just because of who his father was. He didn’t manipulate people, though it would be effortless for him to do so. He loved being the center of attention but he didn’t flaunt his tragic backstory nor his status to obtain it. Maybe that's what compelled Kyoya to be Tamaki’s personal crash course in culture when he first met him. He was genuine. Someone at first wanted to impress and gain access too, and then he quickly turned into someone Kyoya enjoyed having around.

Even as an introvert Kyoya needed someone… And if anyone was safe to let in, this airhead across from him was. Over the years of spending hours and hours listening to Tamaki rant and insist on invading Kyoya’s personal space they had grown closer. The blond was without a doubt his best friend and Kyoya had realized (slowly and with much evidence and persuasion) that Tamaki was smarter than he could ever be. Just in a way that Kyoya hadn’t previously considered. Tamaki was worldly, and he knew more about people… Saw more in them than Kyoya could. The Ootori would never tell Tamaki this, for fear of his ego exploding… but he was proud to have the Frenchman as his friend.

What he wasn’t proud of was the fact that he couldn’t say no to the blond, and was now about to slaughter this entire budget for whatever the next ridiculous request out of Tamaki’s mouth happened to be.

Tamaki took a few moments to compose himself, catch his breath and organize his bouncing thoughts before he sent a happy smile Kyoya’s way. The blond placed a hand against his chest to steady his thudding heart for a moment and he shook his head, clearing his throat once before responding to the ravenette. “I was too!” Tamaki countered.  “I don’t know what got into me but I overslept.” Tamaki shook his head again, wondering whatever got into him.

It was probably because the night before he’d pulled a Kyoya and stayed up later on into the night than he should’ve, planning for and dreaming about the Host Club.  There was so much he wanted to do and so little time before the school year was over! It never seemed like enough time for the Host King.  When he was hosting and around his “family”, time seemed to stand still but the moment he walked outside of the school, time seemed to catch up to the blond and it frightened him to his core.  But he shrugged that creeping feeling off again by refocusing on the Host Club and all the wonderful things he could do.  

After taking his few moments, Tamaki straightened himself in the chair and adjusted the periwinkle uniform, tugging on the sleeves and straightening the tie.  

“But you’re one to talk, Kyoya.” Tamaki chuckled while running a hand through his bangs, ruffling the clean, blond strands a bit. Tamaki wasn’t blind, he’d caught a glimpse of his sleeping friend during his vigorous run into the music room.

But enough of that; Tamaki waved his hand fickly. Tamaki was more than excited to tell Kyoya his brand new idea and he decided to start off with this—and Tamaki, after rummaging through his messenger bag, plopped a travel brochure to Paris, France right down in front of the Ootori.

The blond only smiled happily and leaned back in his chair, arms resting limply on the arm rests as he elegantly crossed his long legs. “Just think! Giving our darlings a trip to Paris! The city of love.” Tamaki cooed, maybe a bit prideful.  “We will have dancing and we’d bring in only the finest French Chefs, mon ami!” Just like the host king wasn’t blind, Tamaki wasn’t dumb either. He knew none of this could possibly be enjoyed in one afternoon, in only one hour like some of their other short events. He wanted to turn this into a festivity of the grandest! He’d spare no expense, not one what-so-ever.

Kyoya rolled his eyes at the blond, at least the ravenette actually had a reason to stay up. Tamaki always kept himself up day dreaming, thinking of the next thing they should do in the host club... Usually harboring absurd expectations.

And just as he dreaded, a travel guide to Paris, France plopped down in front of him. Kyoya sighed, closing his eyes and adjusting his glasses. "And when, Tamaki, do you plan to fit this in? We have our schedule, not to mention our budget tied up for the rest of the year. I thought we'd agreed on all the themed days?" Kyoya knew that Tamaki would pull something like this of course, but Paris? Why couldn't it have been anything else? Anything Kyoya could have turned down? How was he ever going to deny the blond Paris with out breaking his fragile heart? God he'd be in his corner for a month. But Kyoya wasn't sure how he could make this work.

Wait, chefs, dancing? Kyoya furrowed his brows in irritation, he should have known. Tamaki wanted to make an entire evening out of it, which meant he'd have to rent the ballroom, which had very limited space due to the end of the year festivities. They'd have to book it in the next week if they hoped to get an evening in it during the school year.

"Tamaki, we cant just throw together an event like this. You do realize that all the other evening events we hosted this year had been planned since the beginning of the year correct?" He took a deep breath trying to quell his irritation, "Our darlings might love it but we can't just spring this sort of thing on the staff. Not to mention the chairman must approve each evening event..." Kyoya knew the appointments with the chairman were scarce around graduation as well.

The more the Ootori thought about it the more impossible it seemed. Or... improbable rather.