Color My World (Ouran High School Host Club)

Chapter 11- Awkward Topics

My father and siblings have simply been dying to meet you girls," Kyoya remarked nonchalantly from behind his newspaper, upper lip curled into a smirk.

"Hm?" I raised an eyebrow at him, nibbling on a gourmet cookie. "Your point being?"

"What is it, senpai?" Haruhi sighed, looking up from what appeared to be a large, leather-bound volume, her eyes rimmed with dark circles.

"My point is that they've invited you for dinner at one of our estates," he replied, placing the paper on his lap and adjusting his glasses. "My recommendation is that you comply. My father can quite irritable when his cordial invitations are so brusquely refused."

"What's in it for us?" I demanded, wiping a crumb from my mouth with the pale yellow cloth napkin Mori had tossed in my direction. "What, do you think I'm really going to willingly meet your family? I bet they have poles up their asses. Like you. Honestly, I wouldn't be surprised."

"I have to agree with senpai...I'm not too enthusiastic about meeting your folks," Haruhi said sheepishly, running her fingers through her unruly mop of chocolate brown hair.

"Well, if you insist," Kyoya sighed, whipping his clipboard out of his pocketbook and leafing through his papers. "I'll lower your debt, Haruhi, and Ayame...you can have a week off."

"Wait, really?" I squealed, clambering to my feet. "You honestly mean that?"

"I'm a man of my word, Ayame. Haven't you already figured that out?" Kyoya said smugly.

But I was already too far gone, envisioning a blissful seven days of paradise, a whole week without the psychotic creeps that dominated by miserable life. "Mm-hm."

"Now, we should talk business," Kyoya said promptly, tapping a ballpoint pen against his chin. "My father has scheduled March 23rd for the night of a dinner at our estate...would that be convenient for you ladies? I'm afraid it is the only open evening in his crowded schedule, so you'll have to-"

"Huh, so you were planning on dragging us there anyways?" I scowled at him, flopping back into the squishy, comfortable armchair. "Bastard."

"I'm afraid I simply have to obey my father's commands. It's my duty as a son, after all. He is absolutely insistent on meeting you two."

"Lovely," I sighed, shaking my head. "Just lovely. What's your father like, anyways?"

Kyoya smoothed out his dress pants, pushing his glasses farther up the bridge of his nose. "Ah...I would advise that you not make him angry. I can assure you that it will not be pleasant. Just keep smiling and don't say anything foolish that may offend him. My family employs-"

"A private police force of over a hundred men," I finished, puffing out my cheeks. "I know, I know. Does that mean he's going to chase me to the edge of the country if I bitch off on him? Sensitive guy."

"Don't joke about that...you know what senpai's like," Haruhi said tiredly, watching as the twins ripped off yellowing pages of their textbooks and flew paper airplanes across the spacious music room.

"Haruhi's quite right, Ayame. Now, do we have our date? March 23rd, yes? At 7:30? Oh, you most certainly can't dress in commoner attire- I'll be sending a couple of my sister's stylists to assist you in preparations. The afternoon is fine, nothing too formal, I suppose. A simple black and white outfit will do for the occasion. Is that convenient for you two?" Kyoya rattled off at top speed, pen poised over his clipboard.

"Um...personal stylists?" I exchanged a worried glance. "Aren't you taking this a bit too far?"

"Nonsense. I am entirely serious." He glanced up from his notes, managing a tight-lipped smile. "I'm sure my family will be charmed by you ladies. Thank you for your cooperation."