Arden's brows furrowed lightly, watching from the driver's seat as Miki settled into the backseat of the limo before reaching up to cover her mouth as a barely audible yawn escaped her lips. He pursed his lips, emerald eyes flickering to the in-car clock.
4:14 a.m.
It was far too late for someone like her to be awake.
"Was it another busy day, Milady?" He asked, turning back to face the steering wheel as he attempted to suppress the obvious tone of concern laced within his voice.
"Huh?" Miki blinked, taking a moment to process his question before chuckling wryly. "Yes, it has." She affirmed. "The underwater portion for this new movie just hasn't been working out the way we want it to. So the director is anxious that we'll have the push the long-awaited premiere date back by another season or two." Cupping a hand over her cheek, she heaved a sigh. "All departments have been in a mass state of panic because of this, so our work hours have been greatly prolonged."
"I see," Arden hummed as he reached forth to ignite the engine. "Then, I pray that everything progresses smoothly soon." He spoke courteously, casting a soft smile over his shoulder before pressing his foot down on the gas pedal and sending the limo on its way.
It's been seven long years since the hosts returned to Japan from their year of studying abroad in Boston, and much has changed with the passage of time.
Honey and Mori have since completed the rest of their university years at Ouran University and took up their respective roles as the head of their families upon their fathers' consecutive retirements. Against all the odds and differences they may share, Honey and Reiko have since gotten married and proceeded to become the first married couple among the hosts. Mori also began to settle down with his fiancee, a sweet and gentle woman who was known for her grace and beauty within the Japanese Traditional Dancing Industry.
Haruhi and Tamaki soon joined them at school upon their return. Having excelled within the law department through her skill and hard work, Haruhi had actually managed to graduate one year earlier than usual and has since poured her energy into building up the foundations for an independent law firm. Tamaki, on the other hand, continued his rigorous training as the Suoh family successor under both the business department of Ouran University and Suoh Shizue's hands-on guidance. He was set to inherit the Corporation within a few more years, having proven himself time and time again to be quite the talented leader and director. The two have also since gotten engaged after Tamaki finally overcame all his nervousness to ask Ranka for Haruhi's hand in marriage, only for Ranka and Yuzuru to work together and dump a bucket of water on top of his head in a spirited prank. A prank of which Anne-Sophie, Shizue and Miki had actively participated in.
Hikaru and Kaoru, on the other hand, have decided not to move up to Ouran University but instead attend the University of Tokyo, which possessed one of the most influential Art Programs within the entire continent. Hikaru has since become a leading graphic designer for an up-and-coming video game company. At the same time, Kaoru worked under Yuzuha as a fashion designer, studying to someday take over as the CEO and chief designer of the Hitachiin Fashion Line. Over the years, the two have also somehow gained a little sister in Ageha Hitachiin. A frank and intelligent little girl with a personality that scarily resembled and somehow oppressed that of her elder brothers'. Despite that, she seemed to have developed a strong emotional attachment to the Suoh siblings, much to her real siblings' dismay. On the romance end of the spectrum, Hikaru was still single, while Kaoru has expressed interest in a few guys on the occasions he and Miki would talk privately.
Unlike the rest of their friends, however, Kyoya and Miki didn't immediately return to Japan upon the end of their time in Boston. Instead, the two of them chose to relocate to the west coast of America to attend university. Kyoya travelled to Palo Alto as he participated in Stanford University's Business Program, completing both his Bachelor's and Master's degrees, even managing to graduate a year earlier through his diligence and hard work alone. Miki, on the other hand, settled down in Los Angeles and spent four years furthering her studies in Production Design at the top Film and TV school in the world. Despite living away from her family, she often returned to Japan to visit during breaks and has continued to maintain her close relationship with Tamaki, the two interacting without a care for the restraints being step-siblings may have placed on them. She has also since gotten quite close with both Anne-Sophie and Shizue, each filling into their respective roles as her second mother and grandmother as the three bonded over their mutual love for old and cheesy Japanese dramas. They have even set up 'Women's Drama Night,' an event of which Yuzuru and Tamaki were strictly banned from, much to their dismay. Between the year after completing her degree and waiting for Kyoya to complete his Master's, Miki threw herself into the winding world of Hollywood. She established herself within the industry as a promising and capable designer, quickly gaining recognition from the masses after a mere handful of jobs that were praised for their gorgeously designed and detail-oriented sets. Though once Kyoya completed his studies at Standford, Miki followed him back to Japan, having intended to establish her base-of-operation there all along. However...
"Arden? Can you hear me?" Hearing his name being called, Arden snapped out of his train of thought. He swiftly glanced into the rearview mirror, only to realize that his lady has since moved to the seats closer to the driver's and was now peering at him with that usual curious look in her eyes.
"Sorry, Milady. I was lost in thought." He admitted with an apologetic smile. "What were you saying again?"
"I was just wondering... Is Kyoya still the same as usual?" Miki asked, resting her folded arms and head on the back of Arden's seat.
Pressing his lips together, Arden nodded wordlessly. "Yes, he is." He admitted as he turned his attention back to the road ahead, spotting the Ootori Mansion coming up in the distance. "But Tachibana and Aijima were already in the process of moving him from his office to the bedroom by the time I left to pick you up, so he should be soundly sleeping there right now." He reassured.
"I see..." Miki murmured, her hazel eyes averting thoughtfully to the side.
As she exited the bathroom, Miki readjusted the strap of her nightgown that slide down the side of her shoulder as she crept towards the king-sized bed. With the help of the dim glow from her nightlamp, she could faintly make out Kyoya's silhouette that was tucked into bed by Tachibana and Aijima. He was fast asleep, still dressed in his work clothes and lodged in quite the tense-looking position. Miki hummed, delicately crawling onto her side of the bed before laying down beside him.
Upon their return from America, it didn't take long for Kyoya to make the decision to move out of the Ootori residence. Miki soon joined him, after Yuzuru's begrudging approval. In fact, the two have even adopted a little black cat together after Miki and Hotta found it wandering around the gardens without a mother or sibling. Regarding the topic of marriage, both Yoshio and Yuzuru had mutually decided to leave that in the hands of their children, especially when their relationship seemed like it was already progressing in that direction. Besides, as Anne-Sophie pointed out, the two already act like a married couple anyway.
However, despite living under the same roof for nearly two years, Kyoya and Miki haven't had a proper conversation in nearly 21 months.
The truth is, barely three months after her return to Japan, Miki had received a mountain of opportunities from various filming studios, inviting her to return to Los Angeles to work on some of the most highly anticipated projects of the years. Anyone of those proposals was too valuable to pass up, so under Kyoya's encouragement, she returned to America for another fifteen months to participate in those projects. Upon returning to Japan once more, tales of her talent had already reached her homeland as she was immediately picked up by one of the most prestigious filming studios in Tokyo. For the past six months, she was given the position as the lead production designer of an upcoming film that featured many underwater-night shots. This led Miki to have an extremely irregular schedule, working from three in the afternoon until two in the morning. And on most days, she'd have to clock in over hours, working until sunrise at four or five in the morning. This directly conflicted with Kyoya's schedule, who worked from the usual office hours from eight to six. Though from what's she's heard, even after returning home to the manor, he still continued to pour himself into his work. Confining himself within the office after dinner until he'd eventually work himself to sleep, leaving Tachibana and Aijima to carry him into his bedroom out of concern for their master.
Even during the weekends, the two would hardly be able to see each other.
The movie project that Miki had been working on was already pushed back several times, and the investors were getting rather impatient. This prompted for filming to continue even throughout the weekends and holidays, and as the lead designer, Miki's presence was near mandatory. Kyoya, on the other hand, continued to work without concern for breaks or holidays. He remained focused solely on his goals, proving himself as both a capable management expert and a strong contender as the successor to the Ootori family.
Miki hummed as she studied Kyoya's sleeping expression. Reaching out, she gingerly brushed her fingers against his cheek before trailing it down to his lips. It's been so long since she's heard him speak; her heart was beginning to ache at the yearn to hear his voice.
Back then, when neither of them was too busy with school or work, they'd chat on the phone until one of them (mostly Miki) fell asleep. But now, phone calls were hardly an option, seeing as Miki was mostly away from her phone during work hours while Kyoya was far too engrossed with the tasks at hand to hear his phone chime.
It was strange. It felt as if they've had fewer interactions now that they were living together, compared to the time when they were living cities apart in California.
Heaving a long sigh, Miki allowed her hand to drop lifelessly onto Kyoya's pillow. She then shuffled closer to him, snuggling herself into his chest before allowing her eyes to fall shut. It didn't take long before Kyoya's steady, rhythmic breathing lulled her into a deep sleep of her own.
The next time Miki opened her eyes, it was already one in the afternoon. Kyoya was long gone, as usual, but the blankets had been firmly tucked around her body. However, as soon as she came to, she quickly sat up from the bed and snapped her head towards her nightstand, finding the usual sticky note laying neatly on top of her reference books.
---------
Don't overwork yourself.
-K
---------
Miki giggled, carefully folding up the note before placing it into a small box from the inner drawer of her nightstand. Then, she pulled out her own set of supplies she kept within to draft up her response.
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You too, Kyoya.
Remember to sleep early. Your panda eyes are getting worse. (；'д｀)ゞ
-Miki
---------
Satisfied with her message, she was about to call Arden in to deliver it to the office when she froze. She took a moment to herself, glancing down at her handwritten note before turning to the little box that was overflowing with Kyoya's short messages for her throughout the past six months. This was what their scarce interactions were reduced to. Notes. There were so many of those within that box, each filled with gentle words and stern reminders that warmed her heart every time she woke up. Yet, at the same time, they also brought forth a wrenching sensation in her chest. She wanted to hear those words from him directly, to see him, to touch him. She wanted to go on more dates, to travel to more places and just... spend more time with him.
Miki pressed her lips together, the note in her hands beginning to crease under the unknowing pressure she was asserting as she remained lost in her train of thought. Taking a deep breath, she then reached over to press down the intercom that transmitted her voice directly to her loyal butler.
"Arden, I have a new note for you to deliver to the office." She beckoned as a resolute glint began to twinkle within her eyes. "And contact my manager. I'd like to have a conversation with him as soon as possible."
~A Month Later~
"Welcome home, Master Ootori." Suzuno lowered her head as a sign of respect as Kyoya stepped out of the vehicle. "How was your day at work?"
"The same as usual," Kyoya replied, handing his briefcase to the maid's waiting arms as Tachibana drove off to park the car. "Bring my dinner to the office. I'll be eating there again." He instructed.
"Are you sure you would like that?" Tilting her head to the side, Suzuno's lips curled into a mysterious smile.
Kyoya raised an eyebrow.
"Come now, Suzuno." Stepping forth, Arden spoke with an amused expression. "Thurston's first rule in magic is to never reveal what's going to happen. We can't spoil the surprise for Master Kyoya now." He reminded diligently.
"I suppose so," Suzuno giggled.
"What surprise?" Brows furrowing slightly, Kyoya questioned in a stern voice.
Hearing the obvious irritation in his tone, Arden couldn't help but break into a simper. "Forgive us, but you'll need to discover that for yourself." He said, before bowing his head. "But we shall take the back door so that you could have some time alone." He asserted before turning on his heel and disappearing into the night, Suzuno hot on his heels.
That butler... Kyoya felt his eye twitch. There are times when he's just as unpredictable as his liege. He remarked to no one in particular before casting Aijima and Hotta, who stood behind him, a sharp glance. The former simply lowered his head without another word before slowly backing away into the night.
Hotta, on the other hand, stiffened at the man's probing gaze. "E-Excuse me, sir!" He exclaimed, giving a quick and sloppy bow before hurrying down the path that led towards the back entrance of the mansion.
Figuring that he wasn't going to get a response from his staff, either way, Kyoya ultimately decided that it would be easier just to find this 'surprise' they had so thoughtfully kept hidden from him in his absence. Heaving an exasperated sigh, he made his way up the stairs and pushed the large frosted glass door open.
He froze at the sight before him.
Sitting on the ground of the foyer was Miki, fast asleep. She had been coiled shoulder to toe in a thick blanket as she snoozed away with the side of her head resting against the nearby wall. A little black fluff ball, also known as their cat Noir, was curled up on her lap, purring softly.
Kyoya felt his breath hitch. For a moment, he stood still in fear of shattering the image before his eyes. He couldn't help but wonder if this was nothing but an illusion, a sick manifestation of his inner desire to see her. However, he was quickly confronted with the reality of the image when Noir's ears began to twitch. The kitten perked up at the scent and presence of his favourite human and immediately began to stretch out his back, effectively shaking off the drowsiness that lingered.
"Mm..." As the little black cat hopped down from Miki's lap and began to wobble towards him groggily, Kyoya watched in a daze as the blonde began to stir from her sleep. "Noir? What's wrong?" She murmured, gently rubbing her eyes with an air of exhaustion before peering up, effectively locking eyes with him for the first time in months.
It didn't take long for her to register what was going on as her face instantly lit up into that glimmering, radiant smile.
"Kyoya!"
Within mere seconds, the blanket that was once securely wrapped around her body had been tossed aside as she leapt towards him. She threw her arms around his neck, effectively taking Kyoya by surprise as he took a staggering step back in an effort to stabilize both of them.
"Welcome home!" She sang cheerfully, burying her face in the crook of his neck.
Kyoya's eyes went wide.
Home.
Before he had realized, the concept of a home had become so foreign to him. For two years, the walls of this mansion had become nothing but walls and beams — an empty box where he'd return to at night only to continue working. However, when Miki had spoken that simple greeting, the idea of a 'home' suddenly began to feel a lot warmer. It was as if a looming fog had been lifted, or a stubborn iceberg has finally melted.
That's right.
This place, it's 'home.'
With that simple thought in mind, the corner of Kyoya's lips lifted into a slight smile as he gently closed his eyes. "I'm home." He murmured, firmly wrapping his arms around her waist.
"What are you doing here, though?" After letting the moment pass, Kyoya lowered his body to allow Miki's dangling legs to touch the ground, though his grip on her waist never loosened. "Aren't you supposed to be at work right now?"
"Filming for 'Legend of the Starry Sea' wrapped yesterday, you know?" Tilting her head to the side, Miki giggled airily. "But, our next project will begin filming next week." She informed with shimmering excitement reflected in her hazel eyes.
Pushing aside the foolish sense of disappointment that began to manifest within his chest, Kyoya huffed out a laugh. "What's this new project about?" He asked.
Miki peeled away from Kyoya, swiftly casting him a mysterious smile before taking a deep breath. "They're making a Japanese adaption to Crime? Crime Drama ♥ and they asked me to the head of the production department!" She announced brightly. "Can you believe it, Kyoya? My first job as the head of a department gets to be on the set of my favourite show! I have so many ideas wonderful ideas for the set! Like in episode 18, when the detective goes to a haunted toy store with his assistant, I could..."
As Miki continued to babble on, fangirling about practically every little insignificant detail within the plot and background of her favourite show, Kyoya couldn't help but deadpan a little. He had unfortunately seen a few episodes of this 'Crime? Crime Drama ♥' Miki spoke so frequently about. It was... quite the unique show, to say the least. They were all slice of life mysteries with the occasional serious case slipped in for good measure. Long story short, the show was ridiculous. But whenever he'd witness Miki's glimmering expression when she spoke about the topic, he'd decide to keep quiet.
"Ah, that's right!" Suddenly stopping herself mid-sentence, Miki clapped her hands together. "When I signed the contract to work on this show, I made sure to add a special condition on my end." She said, lifting an all-knowing finger. "I told them that I would not be willing to work on the weekends, and that I'd appreciate it if they'd regulate my work hours."
Despite the fluttering joy that pulsed through his chest, Kyoya couldn't help but raise an eyebrow at her odd request. "Why did you do that?" He questioned.
Miki blinked. "Because I want to spend more time with you, Kyoya," She stated honestly.
Kyoya's eyes widened.
"I know we exchanged notes often, but I want to hear you say those things to me aloud." Averting her eyes to the side, Miki continued thoughtfully. "I want to see you more often, to go on more dates, to visit more places and to learn even more things from you." She then turned to stare up at him once more before cocking her head to the side. "Is it selfish of me to want something like this?"
In the face of her seemingly innocent question, the corners of Kyoya's lips tugged upwards into a satisfied smirk. He quickly reached forward to wrap an arm around her waist, pulling the blonde close and securing her small frame against himself as his other hand trailed upward to gently caress her cheek. He took a moment, appreciating the nostalgic view of her curious, wide-eyed expression as he gingerly brushed his thumb over her lips before replying.
"No," He whispered in a breathy voice, gaze flickering up to meet hers. "Because I want it too." He said before dipping down to capture her lips in a firm kiss.
At that moment, months of pent up passion and need were being released and further built up by the second.
Enveloped in his warmth, Miki's body tingled with anticipation as it instinctively responded to his gesture. Allowing her eyes to fall shut, she wrapped her arms around his neck and melted into the kiss. Her breath quickened as she struggled to keep up, trying her best to match the overwhelming sense of desire that was being poured into her through their continuous exchange.
It didn't take long before she began to grow light-headed from a lack of oxygen. Pressing a palm against his chest, Miki attempted to separate herself from him with the intention of catching a breath only for Kyoya to yank her back, forcing their lips to collide once more as he once again knocked the air out of her.
"Not yet," He said, holding her wrists in a tight grasp to prevent any form of resistance as he began to lower her body towards the ground. His hands moved to run up and down her sides, outlining the shape of her body and tugging at the straps of her black chiffon dress.
Everything he's been holding back was now overflowing, and he couldn't do anything to stop it.
"K-Kyoya," Miki gasped, spotting the growing lust that began to manifest within his eyes as her back pressed against the heated marble floors. "We're still in the foyer!" She reminded.
"Nobody will be coming here for a while," He assured, gently nibbling on her lower lip.
"But Noir is still here," Miki reasoned breathlessly, forcefully turning her head to the side in an effort evade his next onslaught of kisses.
Kyoya flinched at her words. Halting his advances for a second, he turned his head to the side to spot the little black cat, staring right at them with its large, beady eyes. He felt his brows twitch a little.
"So that cat is more important...?" He grumbled under his breath.
"Huh?" Miki sounded, not having heard what he said.
"It's nothing." Kyoya shook his head. "But you're right; Noir is here." He then admitted, shooting the clueless kitten an envious glance before turning back to the blonde. With his usual self-satisfied simper etched onto his lips, he secured his grip under her knees and against her back respectively, before picking her up in a bridal carry. "Shall we take this to the bedroom?" He offered smugly.
Instead of responding, Miki encircled her arms around his neck and kissed him.
The moon hung high on the starless, cloudless sky. It shone a pale light past the sheer curtains of the master bedroom and onto Miki's face, beckoning the blonde awake from the depths of her slumbers.
Opening her heavy eyelids, Miki turned her head to stare out at the night sky before slowly sitting up, making sure to use the sheets to cover her bare body. Though her memory and vision were initially still hazy from exhaustion, she was quickly jolted awake when she registered the aching soreness lingering in her back and legs from the night's activities. She pursed her lips, taking a moment to glance around the room before finally noticing the figure that laid fast asleep beside her.
"Kyoya..." She murmured in what could only be surprise, before allowing expression to melt into a blissful smile. Shuffling a little closer to him, she gingerly laid herself back down onto the bed, careful not to wake the demon from his slumbers.
For a moment there, Miki took a while to herself as she studied Kyoya's sleeping face in the pale moonlight.
Now that she thought about it, Kyoya really is a good-looking man. Despite appearing so refined and mature during the day, as he slept, he looked incredibly peaceful and almost child-like to a certain extent. She's always found him the most handsome out of all the men she's known, and it seemed that even after seven long years, that notion never changed.
Unable to contain herself any longer, Miki leaned forward to plant a gentle kiss on her partner's parted lips. Despite her intentions on pulling away with just one kiss, she quickly became addicted to the sweetening sensation that coaxed her heart whenever she'd touch him.
One more. She told herself as she snuck him another kiss. However, this time as she pulled back, she noticed that Kyoya's brows were twitching ever-so-slightly. She blinked.
"Are you awake?" She called out curiously.
It took a little while for him to answer, but after a few seconds of contemplation, he opened his eyes with a faint dust of pink on his cheeks. "Yes, I am." He affirmed.
"Then you should've told me." Miki pouted playfully before breaking into a light chuckle. "How are you feeling? Are you hungry?"
"I should be asking you that." Rolling onto his back, Kyoya hummed. "Did I push you too hard last night?"
"No, not at all." Shaking her head, Miki immediately denied the notion. "It felt really good, actually." She admitted with a soft smile.
Upon hearing those honest words, Kyoya couldn't help but feel a surge of blood rush to his face once more. Covering his eyes with his forearm, he let out a barely audible groan. "...You are still way too tempting." He muttered under his breath.
"Hm?"
"Nothing." Turning back onto his side, Kyoya reached forward to cup his hand against the back of her head, closing the distance between them.
"Come here; it's cold." He said.
Miki complied, snuggling closer and burying her face in his collar bone when she suddenly felt the light touch of metal graze against her forehead. She peered up, spotting the silver chain of what seemed to be a necklace glistening against his skin in the moonlight. Reaching forward, she began to play with the chain between her thumb and index finger.
If she remembered correctly, it was the same silver tag neck she gave back almost eight years ago in front of the Eiffel tower. The fact that he's kept it all this time set her heart aflutter.
"Hey, Kyoya?"
"Mm?"
"Why did you keep working in the office until you fell asleep?" She asked, still toying with the necklace between her fingers. "It's not good for your health to do that, you know?"
Upon her question, Kyoya opened his eyes to stare out into the velvet sky as he gathered his thoughts. "It didn't feel right to sleep here alone, that's all." After a little while longer, he replied.
Miki's gaze immediately darted up to stare at him, eyes wide. She was somewhat surprised by his response, albeit in a good or bad way. "Okay!" Though it didn't take long before she recovered, breaking into her usual cheerful smile as she nodded her head. "I'll try not to leave you from now on, alright?"
"I've told you many times already," Kyoya heaved a sigh at her offer. "You need to consider things from a perspective that would benefit yourself."
"But I already am," Miki stated as if it were the most obvious thing ever. "Staying beside you like this is exactly what would benefit me the most."
Kyoya couldn't help but huff out a laugh at her ever-present naivety. Burying a portion of his face in her fluffy hair, he took in a deep breath, inhaling her sweet scent. "I missed you." He whispered.
"Ah!" Just as they were beginning to settle back into the night, Miki suddenly broke the tranquillity as she jolted up from the bed. "I just remembered," She gasped, covering her lips with the tips of her fingers. "I need to head back to Los Angeles next month to attend the premiere of that movie I was working on."
Kyoya raised an eyebrow at her. "'Millennium Snow'?"
Miki nodded. "Say Kyoya, would you like to go with me?" She offered, hazel eyes twinkling with what Kyoya could only assume as added enthusiasm. "I have a plus one invite to the event." She explained.
Kyoya considered it for a moment before letting out a low chuckle. "I suppose I could take a few days off work."
"Really?" She clapped her hands together joyously. "Then, it's settled!"
"Now get some sleep," Patting the area beside himself, Kyoya spoke in an almost scolding tone. "It's three in the morning." He pointed out.
"Hehe, okay." Following his instructions and laying back down onto the soft mattress, Miki nestled herself closer to him with a tender expression. "I love you, Kyoya." As she slowly let her eyes flutter shut, she muttered blissfully.
It didn't take long for Miki's breathing to even out, settling into a soft, rhythmic pace as she dozed off into the peaceful realm of dreams. The corners of Kyoya's lips tugged upwards into a smile as he absently ran his fingers through her silky hair, fixing the strands that had gone astray in all the rustling.
Finally, when he felt satisfied with how it laid out against the white bedsheets, he then pulled her in to plant a feathery kiss on her forehead.
"I love you too." He hummed.