Color My World (Ouran High School Host Club)

Epilogue- The Proposal

Tugging my magenta suitcase towards the check-in counter, watching couples embrace, and hearing businessmen yammering German into their Blackberries, I held hands with Kyoya. The airport's floor-to-ceiling windows revealed a bright blue sky and the glimmering sun; the weather that day was absolutely gorgeous.

Eyes brimming with tears, I faced my friends, almost speechless.

Tamaki rushed forward and collided into me, sobbing. "Ayame-chan!"

I grinned, patting him on the shoulder and rocking him back and forth. "Aw, Tamaki…I'll miss you, too. Take care of Haruhi for me, will you?"

"Of course! What sort of a husband do you think I am?" He drew himself up, puffing his chest out. Haruhi heaved a sigh, the sort you gave when the person you loved was a total moron, leaning forward to peck him on the cheek.

The couple married after Haruhi graduated from college, but somehow, we had always known that it was only a matter of time it happened. I just didn't think that they'd grow up so soon; it made me feel old just thinking about it. I beamed at Kyoya, and he gave my hand a warm squeeze.

"Hey, you know I can do that myself, senpai!" Haruhi laughed, giving me a quick hug. "Good luck, okay? Kyoya-senpai, do your best! We're all rooting for you!"

Kyoya had gotten accepted into Harvard Business School, and we were all super proud of him, even though he, of course, definitely hadn't fallen short of our expectations. It was a hard decision for him, what with the fact that we'd been dating for six years, but he eventually decided to move to Boston for the next two years in order to get his degree. And me? Well, I didn't really have any other choice but to go with him. A labor of love, as they say. But I was willing to do that for him. What sort of sappy person had I turned into, anyways? It was definitely from those crazy hormones of mine.

I picked up Honey-senpai and twirled him around, before pulling him close to my chest and breathing in his signature scent of of sugar and cinnamon, "I'll miss you, Honey-senpai! Remember to keep in touch, okay?"

"I'll call you every day, Aya-chan!" he exclaimed, smiling brightly as I set him down and shook hands with the somber Mori.

"Good luck with that kendo dojo, senpai!" I gave the tall man a teary grin, standing on tiptoe to kiss his cheek.

The twins were watching me blubber with matching smirks. Laughing, I just about tackled them to the ground, burying my face into their shoulders. "Oh, you little bastards! I'll definitely miss our snowball fights!"

"We can have a rematch once you come back, senpai," they chorused, producing a bouquet of flowers from behind their backs. I almost bawled my eyes out on that one.

"Oh, I love you all!" I gushed, wiping my eyes on a tissue Kyoya handed me. "Thanks for everything you've done for me! I can't even-"

"Then don't," Tamaki laughed, giving me little salute, violet eyes shining. "Thank you, Ayame-chan. Now, go on. That plane isn't gonna wait for you."

I sniffled, giving him a pat on the shoulder and stepping away. Kyoya proceeded to shake hands with everyone and murmur his farewells, lingering on Tamaki as I had. Exchanging a little smile, I grasped his hand once more and waved to the six most amazing people in the world. "Goodbye! Come visit us sometime! I love you all!"

Kyoya and I, finally done with our goodbye rituals, walked across the smooth, tiled floor, heading towards security. Glancing back at my friends, I gave a reluctant smile, brushing a tear away from my cheek.

"You know, I'm not forcing you into all of this," Kyoya muttered lowly. "I know you don't want to go with me."

"God, Kyoya, can't you accept a favor?" I groaned, frowning at him. "You've done everything possible for me, and I'm not allowed to do anything back? I'm going with you because I love you. There's no turning back now. We've made all the arrangements, haven't we? It's all figured out. You'll work your ass of in business school while I mess around working at a music store, or something like that! Everything's covered, and I'm willing to do it because you're amazing, and-"

"You'll do anything for me," he finished bitterly, gazing at a neon McDonald's sign.

"Yes, that's exactly it." I fidgeted, gazing uncertainly at him. "Er…you believe me, right? I swear to God I'm telling the truth."

He shook his head, giving me a warm smile. "Of course, Ayame. I was just making sure. In that case-"

Whipping a tiny velvet box from his pocket, he bent down onto one knee, opening it to reveal a sparkling ring. "Ayame Nakamura…you're definitely the most amazing girl I've ever met, no doubts about that. I know we're not ones for romantic proposals, so I'll say this as directly as I can: will you do me the honor of staying by my side for the rest of our lives?"

"Oh…my…shit," I breathed, pinching my arm to make sure I wasn't dreaming that he actually asked me to marry him. Fucking marry him. The son of one of the most influential CEOs in the nation. But that, of course, wasn't the most important thing.

I nodded, bowling him over in a bear hug. "Yes. Yes!"

He kissed me gently, laughing and tucking a strand of my hair behind my ear, whispering, "No need to worry about my father. I won him over in the end."

"I didn't expect anything less of you!"

I heard a series of repeated click, glancing up to see a couple of copper heads peeking from behind an artificial palm tree. "Ha, look who just got engaged. These are so going on Facebook."

I blushed a deep crimson. Goddammit, the only person more infuriating than those two was Kyoya himself. "Hikaru….Kaoru…I SWEAR TO GOD, I'M GOING TO MURDER YOU!"