Something Sweet

Ch. 11: A Compromised Date

I was waiting in the town like Karou asked although he was running late. But soon I saw Hikaru walking over instead.

"Hey Hikaru, where's Karou? He was suppose to come." I say but he shrugs a little awkwardly.

"Well, what had happened was..." He explains a whole situation of how Karou got sick and asked him to go instead.

"Oh, well I guess this is just as fine." I shrug, adjusting the unbuttoned flannel and tank top. I was also in ripped jeans and some old black shoes.

"So what should we do?" He asks and I think.

"Follow me." I say, grabbing his hand and rushing past the crowd.

"What are we doing?" He asks when I stop in front of an ice cream place.

"One vanilla cone." I ask and take the ice cream.

"But Yuuto-"

"It's fine Hikaru. I use to come here when I was younger and my favorite was their famous ice cream. I think you should experience it." I say, handing it over.

"But-"

"Oh, beautiful girl, you're so sweet how about a free ice cream?" The blonde clerk says and I shake my head.

"It's fine. Please give it to someone else or have it yourself. We don't need it." I say making the clerk deflate as we walk away.

"Are you sure? This seems a little wrong-"

"It's no trouble with me. I can just eat this." I bend a little and take a small bite out of the cone making him smile and laugh as ice cream is dotted on my nose. We laugh as he wipes it away and takes a bite of the ice cream.

"Mm... This is better than I expected!" He says and I laugh as he gets more.

We go to different stores and shops and we still eat our parts of the ice cream. At one point he was went for ice cream as I bit into the cone. We were both wide eyed and face to face. We blushed as we both pulled back, looking away. I distracted him with presenting a little gift for Karou since he was sick.

A while later, I looked up and saw it would soon rain. "Uh, Hikaru, it looks like it'll rain soon. Maybe even thunder." I inform a little timidly. He looks up at the sky to check.

"Oh, yeah, should we head down the street and catch a taxi?" He asks and I nod.

"Yuuto? Hey, if your looking for a cab, you won't find one when it's about to rain like that. I can borrow the truck from my uncle if you need a ride." He offers and I nod.

"Yes, that would be faster. Hikaru... Hikaru?" I ask as he tenses up, shaking with anger.

"We'll take the cab..." I tune him out as I see dark clouds roll in, the thunder just a small noise but I knew that would change.

"Hikaru, it would be better if we just took the ride instead of-"

"You can go with him. You can do whatever you want and become friends!" He shouts at me before running off.

"Hikaru!" I call before turning to Arai.

"Sorry." I say before running after Hikaru.

I search and run everywhere but not for long when the thunder and rain begins setting in.

~~3rd POV~~

Hikaru was leaning against the tree and saw Tamaki was calling. "Hey boss, can you send a car around? I'm stuck in the rain."

"Where are you two!? You two were suppose to be back here hours ago! What have you done to my daughter!?" He yells into the phone.

"She's not there with you?" Hikaru asks confusedly.

"No, what do you mean? Do you not know where she is!?" Tamaki yells.

"I left her at-"

"You left a girl on a date!? How could you-" Hikaru hears the phone being snatched away.

"Hikaru, you need to find her now. You may not know this but she is deathly afraid of sudden and loud noises like thunder. She won't be on the streets or near any cars when it rains and she will not even attempt to ride in one if it's even sprinkling."

"What?" Hikaru asks in shock.

"If she's scared enough she could have a panic attack or even collapse if it's bad enough. Find her now." Kyoya orders fiercely, nights at the resort flashes through his mind before he shakes his head as to rid himself of them.

"Why didn't she tell me!?" Hikaru yells, running through the rain as he hung up the phone in a rush. Back at the pension, the hosts were all watching Kyoya in shock as he paced the room worriedly.

~~~

Hikaru had searched everywhere in an attempt to find her. Even in town to be sure but by luck he came across a secluded and abandoned church. It was the last place he could look.

"Yuuto?" He asks, walking in and looking around. Her sniffles gave her away and the lightning revealed her curled up and trembling figure under the covered alter.

He ran over and lifted the sheets to reveal her tense figure covering her ears, jumping when the thunder hit. What made him feel worse was the tears that overflowed down her cheeks.

He grabbed the alter's covering and put it over her. He put some headphones on her and sat down next to her, putting an arm around her to pull her closer. She wasn't startled but immediately put her arms around him with her face against his chest as she continued to cry.

Her vulnerable side was a shocking and heartbreaking sight. He pulled her on to his lap and held her even closer to try and soothe her. But he knew that even if the noise was gone, the memories still remained.

All he could do was watch as she trembled in his arms. She was glad she wasn't alone, she was glad someone was there to comfort her. She just couldn't get past the flashes of light and sound of car horns blaring as the cars in her head continued to crash, throwing her forward and back and all directions.

All she could do was let the memories play.

~~~

The rain stopped but Yuuto was asleep. He called the others to pick them up and relayed only that they were together again and nothing more. He didn't want them to look at her differently. He knew as much which made him continue to eat her sweets at the Host Club after she told him her secret.

Hikaru picked her sleeping form up and walked outside where they had just parked. Everyone rushed out to see if she was alright only to find her asleep. Her face showed obvious signs of crying but before they could feel any more bad for her, Hikaru rushed her inside of the car.

He put her on his lap with his arms around her protectively. When the car started she startled upright, drawing everyone's worry filled attention.

She tiredly looked around, not even opening her eyes, before laying back down against Hikaru, nuzzling his shoulder before drifting off into sleep. It surprised him a little that she didn't get off of him and actually made herself comfortable against him, but he wouldn't deny that it made him feel good, that he enjoyed being needed and this close with her.

He pushed aside the hair in her face and tucked it behind her ear. This doesn't go unnoticed as Karou stares at him with the most surprise. He wanted Hikaru to be more open and social but didn't expect such an escalation in a short amount of time. Hikaru didn't notice his brother's staring, as he was still studying Yuuto's face, resisting the urge to brush a hand across her cheek.

These feelings he was feeling were strange and new although he didn't oppose them. He almost wanted to act on it.

He carried her to bed and was watching her as he pulled the blankets over her. As he was about to turn around, her hand unconsciously grabbed his.

"Hikaru..." She whispers, still asleep, surprising him that she was dreaming about him. She pulled the hand close and so he sat on the edge of the bed, waiting until he felt she was ready.