An Artist's Touch

A/N: Well, here's chapter two. I appreciate all reviews. I also appreciate it when you let me know where specifically you saw a problem such as grammatical errors or misspellings, etc. Letting me know allows me to correct the mistakes and helps make me a better writer. I try to proof read these before posting them, but we're all our own worst editors, right? So enjoy!

Chapter Two

“Alright class, settle down. I have your new assignments today. I expect you to put just as much effort into these as the last ones; however, this one will count as your final exam. So make sure you put extra work into it. Each one is different this time to make it a little more challenging. Ohtori-san, would you mind seeing me after class, please?”

Kyoya glanced up from his notebook and nodded. Had he done something wrong? His mind raced over the last couple of classes trying to remember if there’d been an extra assignment that he’d forgotten. Nothing came to mind. Perhaps it was something good. Was there a contest she wanted him to enter? That could be beneficial to him.

When the professor brought his assignment to his desk, he glanced down eagerly but subtly. No use showing excitement over something that the great Shadow King would usually deem a waste of time. He frowned when he saw there was only one word on the piece of paper: Future. He cast a quick glance over to his neighbor’s paper and saw she had a similar piece. Her paper was blank save for the single word: Happiness. Was it possible to switch papers? He knew what he could do with the word happiness but with the word on his paper, he was at a loss.

“Aino-Sensei, there’s just a word on the paper. There are no instructions or anything,” a boy from the back of the class stated.

“You are correct, Hito-san. I want you to take this word and paint what the word means to you in any way you wish. I will not give suggestions to help you nor will I be available for any one on one discussion over the assignment. This is up to you to do. I don’t believe there are really any wrong choices but I do expect to see effort put into this. Remember, this is your final exam for the semester,” the professor explained.

Kyoya settled back in his seat in thought. There were so many things that the word ‘future’ meant to him. Becoming the heir to the Ohotori business being at the top. But this was the next assignment since the Blue one. He’d already asked Haruhi to pose for this one. That meant he needed Haruhi to fit into the word. He had a feeling the answer was very obvious but for the life of him he just couldn’t think of how to go about putting Haruhi into a painting reflecting the word ‘future’. It was something he’d have to think about. Perhaps Haruhi might have a suggestion. He was, after all, taking her home with him after school today to show her the art gallery of his work. He smiled at the thought.

The clock chimed in the tower announcing the end of class. The students gathered their things, talking amongst themselves about the project. Several glanced at Kyoya as they passed; curious as to why he had been asked to stay after.

Once the last student had left, Kyoya made his way up to Aino-Sensei’s desk.

“You wished to see me, Aino-Sensei?”

“Yes, Ohtori-san. It’s regarding your paintings. I’ve noticed that you tend to use the same girl in nearly every one. I would like for you to not use her in this project if that’s possible. I have nothing against the repeated use of subject matter, since many famous artists do use the same thing over and over and it’s become their trademark. However, you have not used a broad enough collection of subjects to paint and I believe it is affecting your work as a whole. One needs variety in one’s life in order to make it exciting, right? Using this girl in nearly every piece you turn in means you aren’t testing the waters. You’re sticking with what you know and do best and not challenging yourself with different subjects. If you wish to continue doing portraits, fine, but use different girls or even some men. You as a painter will suffer without experience and the only way to get experience is to broaden your horizons. Do not use this girl in this assignment, Ohtori-san, am I clear?”

Kyoya felt as if she had just asked him to rip his arm off and beat himself over the head with it. How dare she ask such a thing of him! How dare she demand he not use Haruhi as his subject when she was just as much a part of his future as his goal to become the heir to the Ohtori Corporation was? He frowned and looked down at the paper in his hand.

“Aino-Sensei, did you pre-select the assigned words or were they randomly handed out?” he asked, his tone cool.

The professor folded her hands over her desk and appeared unruffled by the Shadow King’s tone. “I did not assign the words before hand, no. Are you unhappy with your word, Ohtori-san? Can you only do it if you are allowed to use this girl?”

Kyoya raised his head and gave the professor his Host Club smile. “Oh, not at all, Aino-Sensei. I was just wondering. I will need to give it some thought before beginning this project but you have my word that she will not be the subject matter of the piece.”

Kyoya bowed and turned to leave the room. He thought he heard a sigh of relief from the professor as he exited the room, but upon glancing back, she was going over her notes for the next class. Kyoya frowned as he made his way to his next class. Several students hurried out of his way as his frown turned into a heated glare. Obviously, when Aino-Sensei said to do what ever the word meant to them, she meant what ever they thought she wanted it to mean to them. Haruhi was his future, he decided, but he couldn’t use her as the subject matter. That was uncalled for as an assignment exception!

Entering his next class, Classical Japanese, Kyoya knew he was going to have to figure out how to get around the promise of not using Haruhi as the subject matter for his assignment. She was his future, so he was going to have to find a way to get her into the painting without her being the focal point.

Tamaki slid into his seat in front of Kyoya and turned around to face him. His smile was as bright as ever but it quickly faded from his face upon seeing the frown on Kyoya’s.

“Why so glum, Kyoya?”

“I am not pleased with my art class assignment,” Kyoya muttered as he pulled his notebook out.

“Oh, is it something different? What do you have to do? Will it be interesting? Will I get to see it?”

Kyoya glared at the blond for a moment before answering. “We were given a word and we have to paint what the word means to us. Aino-Sensei gave me an ultimatum. I can paint anything as long as it’s not my usual model.”

Tamaki cocked his head in thought and Kyoya could swear he heard gears grinding.

“Do you use your model in every painting, then?”

“Most of them, yes and she’s already agreed to be in this one.”

“Does she know you can’t use her for this assignment?” Tamaki asked, for once rather perceptive.

Kyoya sneered as he flipped his notebook open to a blank page. “No, but I’ll figure something out.”

Tamaki nodded slowly as he eyed his friend. He’d never seen Kyoya like this. Oh, sure he’d get upset over club things or even things going on with his family’s business, but never had the Shadow King expressed such a sense of helplessness over something that shouldn’t be that difficult to fix. After all, if he couldn’t paint his usual model, then there surely were plenty of other things Kyoya could paint to fit the word he was given.

“What’s the word? The one your professor gave you?”

Kyoya looked blankly at his friend before blinking and reaching into his bag for the piece of paper. He handed it over and waited for Tamaki’s response. He saw Tamaki look at the word and frown. He flipped the paper over just to be sure he was looking at the right side before raising his violet colored eyes up to dark grey ones.

“This is your word? You have to do a painting on what the word ‘Future’ means to you? How hard is that? Surely you can just do a painting of one of the Ohtori buildings? Why do you need your model for this? Were you going to have her pose as a nurse or something?” A speculative gleam appeared in the Host Club king’s eye.

“Don’t be an idiot,” Kyoya muttered, completely destroying Tamaki’s vision and sending the blond into a corner of depression. Kyoya just sighed and took the paper from Tamaki’s desk and replaced it back into is bag. He’d have to speak with Haruhi later that afternoon either before or after Host Club duties. For now, he turned his attention to the professor as he entered the classroom and began taking roll call.


* * *

The rest of day seemed to drag for Kyoya but eventually it was time for the Host Club to begin. Today’s theme was Fairy Tales. Hikaru and Kaoru were twin boys from a lesser known fairy tale of Romanian descent called the ‘The Boys with the Golden Stars’. Tamaki dressed as a prince but refused to say which fairy tale prince he was, Kyoya suspected he was Cinderella’s. The two newest host members, first years Hatsu Riyoki and Tsuge Hiro were Puss in Boots and the Steadfast Tin Soldier respectively. Kyoya glanced over at Haruhi and smirked as he saw what she was dressed as: Little Red Riding Hood. Kyoya had managed to dress as a humanoid wolf explaining that, like Tamaki, he was the wolf from several stories but refused to say which one he was really portraying.

Kyoya pushed his glasses up as he made notes in his black notebook regarding how many girls were with each Host. Today, Hiro appeared to have accumulated the most girls. Perhaps it was the uniform, Kyoya thought. Hiro was rather quiet but not to the extent that Mori-sempai had been. Hiro was shy more than anything and Kyoya felt that the role of Steadfast Soldier was right up Hiro’s alley. From the sound of all the sighing, the girls thought so, too.

Kyoya glanced over at Tamaki to see how the King was doing and nodded. Tamaki was wooing like there was no tomorrow and, Kyoya thought with a slight touch of envy, the blond could make a feathered royal purple flat hat, a well padded doublet, pumpkin breeches and hose look good in this day and age. Though, he was secretly glad that it was Tamaki in those balloon-like pants and not he. Kyoya would take the 19th century garb any day.

Kyoya turned his attention to Riyoki. The small first year had become the next Huni-sempai. Of course, no one would ever really be able to replace the small Loli-shota host with a penchant for sweets and bunnies. Riyoki was more the cheeky imp. Haruhi had commented that he was like a combination of Huni-sempai and the twins. A scary thought, that. But he was quite popular with the younger girls and Kyoya was not going to complain about a profit maker. So, as he watched Riyoki grin and swing his Musketeer epee about like the fencer he was, Kyoya nodded as the girls cried out happily.

Hikaru and Kaoru were, of course, living up to their role. The story of the boys with golden stars was one of the very few fairy tales with twins in them. It had taken quite a while to find one and they’d almost had to go with Hansel and Gretel. The twins had not been pleased and had argued over who would have to be Gretel. It was Haruhi who had actually mentioned the Romanian story and after some quick research, the story had been found and implemented into the Host Club theme.

“You see, ladies, our father’s stepmother wanted him to marry her daughter so she killed us after we were born and buried us in the garden and then replaced our bodies with puppies. Our mother was punished when father returned and banished her,” Hikaru said, his expression serious.

“Our bodies grew into beautiful aspen trees in hours time that father refused to cut down even though his stepmother wanted us to be. So, she suggested having twin beds made out of our trunks. Father agreed and we as beds would talk to each other. Our father’s stepmother, hearing this, burned us to ashes and replaced us with different beds,” Kaoru took up the story.

“From our ashes, the two brightest sparks fell into a pond where we became two golden fish. A fisherman caught us and at first he wanted to take us to our father but we begged him to let us swim in dew and dry in the sun where we became babies again. We grew to men within a few hours and went up to our father and revealed who we were. Father had his stepmother killed and brought mother back and we live as you see us now,” the twins finished together.

“Oh, my brother, promise me I’m the only fish you’ll ever swim with,” Kaoru begged, grasping his brother’s hand.

“Of course, my brother! How could you think I’d wish to swim with anyone but yourself? You’re such a fool,” Hikaru cried, cradling Kaoru’s cheek and gazing tearfully into his eyes. The girls watching screamed ‘Brotherly Love!’ and tried to fan themselves off.

“They’re really pouring it on, aren’t they?”

Kyoya glanced down at his side and felt his heartbeat quicken. Haruhi stood next to him, watching the Hiitachin brothers with an indulgent look upon her face.

“That they are. We were lucky to find that story, thank you,” Kyoya responded as he marked something in his notebook.

“Oh, it was nothing. Dad had a book of different fairy tales and it was in there. He used to read them to me and I remembered it when we were discussing what fairy tales to use. You know, Kyoya-sempai, I’m surprised we haven’t done fairy tales before. I’m sure Huni-sempai would have loved doing it.”

“I think we might have had an even harder time finding a fairy tale to fit Huni-sempai and Mori-sempai,” Kyoya pointed out.

“Hmm, that is true. So many fairy tales are about young women who for no real reason are suddenly seen by a prince or emperor or some other rich man who immediately propose to them upon first sight and then someone tries to keep them apart usually using rather gory methods but everything works out in the end. There really aren’t a lot of fairy tales about young men who are recognizable. But then again, perhaps I just don’t know enough fairy tales myself. I’m not really very familiar with foreign fairy tales,” Haruhi admitted, adjusting her grip on her basket of goodies.

“Yes, there do seem to be a fair number of foreign tales out there that are unfamiliar to most people. The Brothers Grimm and Hans Christian Anderson appear to be the most famously known. I can guarantee that a majority of Americans don’t know any Japanese fairy tales but ask them a Grimm brothers’ tale and they’ll be able to list at least three.”

Haruhi nodded in agreement and would have said more if one of her customers hadn’t called her over. Haruhi smiled at Kyoya then turned and hurried over to her waiting customers who cried out how cute Haruhi looked. Kyoya glanced over and wondered how many of those girls really knew that Haruhi was a girl as well. It always amazed him how so many girls couldn’t recognize their own sex in boys’ clothing. Though, dressed as a girl right now, Haruhi wasn’t giving them much to wonder about. With a sigh and a shake of his head, Kyoya turned towards his own small group of customers and made his way over to entertain them. But he couldn’t resist one final look over at his Red Riding Hood. Yes, he’d make sure she gave him her basket of goodies. He was, after all, a wolf ready to lead her from the path and into the world of temptation. His smile grew predatory and the light reflected ominously on his glasses for just a moment. Thankfully, no one noticed and he slid into a seat amongst his guests with a welcoming smile and a few choice Host Club photos that got the girls sighing in rapture and reaching for their pocket books.


* * *


“Ah, that was a splendid day, if I do say so myself!” Tamaki sighed happily a couple hours later when the Host Club had closed its doors for the day.

“Yes, we turned quite a profit today. Riyoki, you alone brought about a tenth of the intake today, congratulations,” Kyoya praised as he pushed his glasses up further.

“Just doing my duty,” Riyoki mumbled shyly, his cheeks turning a soft pink.

Hiro and the twins laughed while slapping him on the back good naturedly before heading out. Everything was cleaned up and except for a few last minute details that Kyoya needed to take care of, the Host Club members were free to go.

“Haruhi, do you want Father to take you home?” Tamaki asked, hope filling his eyes.

Haruhi glanced at Kyoya before turning back to the blond. “No, thank you Sempai, I have something I need to speak with Kyoya-sempai about. But I’ll see you tomorrow, right?”

Tamaki smiled happily and crushed Haruhi in his arms. “Oh, you are such an adorable daughter! Daddy doesn’t want to ever let you go!”

Haruhi managed to extract herself from Tamaki’s clinging arms and eventually got him to go on his way. After the door clicked shut, she waited a minute before going over to the table where Kyoya sat typing.

“You wanted to speak with me, Kyoya-sempai?” she asked softly.

“I thought we’d already established the fact that you are to drop the ‘sempai’.” Kyoya reminded without looking up. Haruhi sighed quietly but said nothing.

Kyoya finished what he was typing and saved the document before closing his lap top. He looked up and gazed at Haruhi for a moment before reaching down and picking up his bag from where it was resting against the table leg.

“I have been given my final painting assignment before winter break. This is my assignment.” Kyoya pulled out the paper and slid it across the table to Haruhi.

Haurhi glanced down at the page and frowned. “Kyoya, there’s only the word ‘future’ on this. Is there supposed to be more? Instructions, perhaps?”

Kyoya shook his head. “No, the assignment is to paint whatever the word means to us. My word is ‘future’.”

“Well, I don’t see what I have to do with what the word means to you. I’m sure you could just paint one of the Ohtori buildings or even just a picture of you graduating, right?”

Kyoya shook his head again. “I could but those aren’t all that the word means to me. To me, the word ‘future’ has a long term connotation to it and you are in my long term goals for the future. But, I have been told not to use you as a model for my painting this time. I apparently need to expand my horizons subject wise. Yet, if I wanted to paint anything and everything then I’d have been doing it from the very beginning. You, Haruhi, are my inspiration. You, Haruhi, play a significant role in my future but if I’m not allowed to paint you, then I don’t know how I can complete this assignment.”

Haruhi blinked in shock at Kyoya’s rather impassioned speech. Did she really mean that much to him? He’d already confessed that he loved her but surely that didn’t mean he had to paint her for every assignment, right? It certainly wouldn’t hurt her feelings if he said he wished to paint someone else. Or would it? Haruhi frowned as she tried to imagine Kyoya coming up to her and telling her he was going to paint a girl from his class. A pretty girl with long wavy black hair and beautiful dark eyes with soft creamy white skin. Haruhi felt that stab of jealousy that she’d felt the other day when she’d thought about the few times Kyoya might have used other girls as models. Haruhi didn’t really like the possessive feeling she had at the thought of Kyoya painting other girls.

Yet, she couldn’t see how she was a part of Kyoya’s future the way he was describing. A long term goal? Where did he see her in his future, then? Glancing up, Haruhi caught Kyoya’s heated expression and her heart restricted and her stomach clenched.

“Just…just how long term are we talking about here?” Her throat suddenly seemed awfully dry.

“Forever and a day, Haruhi. I want you by my side for forever and a day,” Kyoya answered softly but forcefully.

“Oh,” Haruhi said weakly.

Forever and a day seemed awfully long and certainly not a typical Kyoya answer. It was too wistful. Was he still in Fairy Tale mode? Haruhi cleared her throat and looked away.

“Are you sure about that, Kyoya? I mean, we’re still in high school. Isn’t your answer a bit too much? Too serious? Too uncertain?”

Kyoya frowned as he reached across the table to grip one of her hands. “Haruhi, you of all people should know that I don’t make decisions or have desires that are uncertain. You wish to be a lawyer, correct? Well, you’re still in high school; you haven’t been to a college law school class. How can you be certain that you really want to be a lawyer?”

“I’ve wanted to be a lawyer for as long as I can remember, Kyoya. I’m not going to change my mind on that, I can assure you,” Haruhi huffed.

“Then believe me when I say I’m not going to change my mind about having you for the long run. I may not have wanted this as long as you’ve wanted to be a lawyer, but my desire is just as strong. Maybe even stronger. I love you, and I want you in my future but I don’t know how to paint without you in it.”

Kyoya had risen and started pacing as he spoke. He ran an agitated hand through his hair. Haruhi watched, fascinated that the usually unflappable Shadow King was coming undone over the subject of a painting. When Kyoya paused and stood looking out one of the windows, Haruhi rose and walked over to him.

“Kyoya, I can’t tell you what to paint and what not to paint. And I think it’s wrong that your professor has told you not to paint something that you hold dearly in your heart. Especially when it’s something that reflects what your assigned word means to you. But you have to make a decision. You have to decide if you’re going to follow your professor’s instructions or if you’re going to paint what you think you have to paint. I know you’ll find a way to paint your future with or without me as your model for it. Perhaps, the best thing you can do is paint knowing I’m going to be in your future even if you don’t’ actually paint me. Surely there’s something you can paint that will reflect that?”

Kyoya frowned in thought. There was something floating in the back of his head about that statement. Paint something that would reflect her being in his future even if she wasn’t in the painting herself? His mind hurt and he had to close his eyes. He’d have to think on that for a bit but not now. Now, he had a limo waiting outside for him to take Haruhi back to his home to show her the start he’d made towards a gallery of her.

“I’ll think if something. You’ve given me some things to think about, Haruhi. Thank you. Now, I do believe you agreed to come home with me for a little bit as I have something I wish to show you?” Kyoya smiled as he turned towards her.

Haruhi searched his face for a moment and upon seeing that he was fine, she smiled and nodded. She followed Kyoya back over to the table where he gathered his things. Then, with his hand on her lower back, Haruhi let Kyoya lead her out of the Third Music Room and out of the school towards the waiting limo. She knew he’d think of something for the assignment even if she couldn’t model for it. She’d support him. That was perhaps the only thing she could do for now.


*~*~*~

A/N: There really is a fairy tale called the Boys With the Golden Stars and it is Romanian. Just FYI ^_~