--+--
Chapter 5
Dark Blue
The time dragged on from the remainder of the Ouran Festival until the next day. Hitomi had made sure her parents stayed away from each other lest that they would begin fighting again. It wasn't necessary though. Miyoko and Seiko were keen on the idea of avoiding each other. Kyoya remained with Hitomi for the rest of the night as a sign of support. The Ouran Festival came to an end and Hitomi and her father retreated back to the Itachi estate while her mother went to a hotel. In a nutshell, they can't stand to be in the same room, nonetheless, the same mansion.
The next day arrived, cool and refreshing as ever. Hitomi couldn't help feeling somewhat bitter. Time dragged on, stopping ever once in a while before dragging along slowly once again. Seven in the evening finally came. Gathered in the foyer were Hitomi's mother, Yoshio and Kyoya Ohtori, and Tomoyo Hitachiin.
"Pleasant evening, isn't it?" Seiko asked as he entered the foyer.
"Yes, yes it is." Tomoyo agreed.
"Well, this way to the dining room." The servants took their coats and directed them to the specific room. "I did not expect you to come, Kyoya!"
"Yes, sir, but I insisted that I come to support Hitomi." He replied pleasantly. Was it an act? Again, Kyoya wasn't saying anything.
"Well, I wouldn't allow my daughter to witness our discussion so she is in her room instead, having her dinner on the terrace of her room. I shall have a servant take you to her and arrange a plate for you." Seiko explained.
"Thank you, sir." Kyoya bowed to him and left as a servant came to take him to Hitomi's room.
--+--
"Now, let us begin our dinner and our discussion from last night." Miyoko announced.
"At least, let us to discuss the matter calmly and rationally." Seiko added.
"Allow me to state my position on this entire ordeal, first." Tomoyo said. "While an arranged marriage does has its advantages and disadvantages, I believe that it should be Hitomi's decision on who should marries."
"Yes! Hitomi should decide between Kyoya and one of your boys, Tomoyo! Excellent idea!" Seiko proclaimed.
"You misunderstand me, Seiko." She answered. "I meant that she should have the power to choose the man she wants to marry when she is ready. In other words, no arrange marriage."
"So you will not give your consent for an arranged marriage between Hitomi and either Hikaru or Kaoru?" Miyoko asked.
"Correct. My boys shall decide their future wives whenever they are ready." Tomoyo said calmly.
"… Seiko, why do you want our youngest daughter to marry Yoshio's youngest son?" Miyoko asked reluctantly.
"We all are perfectly aware that both are talented beyond words." He began. "Yoshio and I felt that their talent could easily be unlocked because of the other."
"Yes, that is true. Both share the same qualities – talent, the ability to take control of a situation, highly intelligent, controlling and more." Yoshio responded. "I knew both were controlling and intelligent from the start, but it seems to me they have begin displaying their talent more often when they are with each other. An example of that is when your daughter took control of the situation last night."
"So you think that both are better off with each other." Miyoko replied.
"So to speak, yes."
"I think it would be in our best interest to ask Hitomi and Kyoya if they wish to pursue this engagement." Tomoyo suggested.
"You're right. As Hitomi said herself, she prefers not to be forced into a marriage unless she wants to turn out like us." Seiko said. He turned to one of the awaiting servants. "Please call Hitomi down now."
--+--
Meanwhile, Kyoya was dining with Hitomi on the terrace. Dinner between them was nothing new. The setting had somewhat a romantic air to it, though it seemed like no one noticed.
"Allow me to guess why you came here tonight." Hitomi said. Kyoya inclined his head with agreement. "You thought the spectacle would be terribly interesting and exciting to watch, so you came up with a story on how you merely wanted to come in order to support my being."
Kyoya laughed and said, "Right on the mark!"
"Only, you didn't get the chance to witness the discussion provided that I was not allowed to partake in it."
"Yes, that is true as well."
"Well? Are you dreadfully disappointed?"
"Somewhat, yes. Although, I did want to convey a question of my own for you." Kyoya gave her the devious smile they both shared.
"If you ask, then I suppose I will answer." She returned his smile with one of her own.
"Suppose there weren't any merits in this engagement whatsoever. What would you marry me for instead?" He asked.
"Huh?"
"I told you before. Sometimes, a person's relationship with another doesn't always have to do with the merits involved or gained."
"Had I loved you, I would marry you for that fact alone. But, I am not so that is ruled out. Your smile does not express the thoughts you hide behind it. If I could not see through you (though that would never happen), I would marry you to see your true thoughts. As you wife, I would be entitled to know what you were thinking." Hitomi explained.
"Interesting enough. Anything else?"
"No, but what about you? What would you marry me for if there were no merits to be gained?"
"I would possibly marry you for the same reason." Kyoya replied. "Oh yes. And because of your eyes as well."
"My eyes?"
"Yes. I admit that you have very lovely blue eyes."
Hitomi was surprised enough that she blushed a little. It was the first time Kyoya had seen her flush like that. She did not succumb to Tamaki's pleasant words in their first meeting, but she did so just now when it was his own. Perhaps it was an astonishment that he was talking in this manner to her.
"I can't imagine why you would want to give up on us." He continued.
"'Us?'" She asked. "I wonder if there ever was an 'us' in the first place."
"Of course there has. Ever since you transferred to Ouran, there has always been an 'us'." He pointed out.
"Humor me by explaining."
"There has always been an 'us' when we were considered to be two of the smartest in our class. There has always been an 'us' when we considered each other a threat. There has always been an 'us' when we got engaged. And there will always be an 'us' since you and I will always be the Shadow King and Queen." Kyoya explained.
Hitomi stared at him and said nothing.
"Tamaki," he continued, "knows about our current situation. He says that within each arranged marriage there will always be love. The marriage begins with a mutual disdain, before eventually turning into respect, appreciation, affection, and finally, love. You and I already respect each other or we may possibly admire the other's abilities. Why give all that up now when we could pursue more together? It is clear though, that your parents have not been able to grow from that mutual disdain."
Hitomi smiled amusingly at him before laughing softly. "Are you sure Tamaki is the one who said that? I believe those words were your own." She replied tenderly. "Such sweet and kindhearted words! Maybe Tamaki is rubbing off on you, Kyoya."
Kyoya grinned as well. "Maybe he is. Perhaps I should have him rub off on you, too. You will find that he makes you look at life in a much more interesting way." He answered. "But do you understand?"
"I do. Thank you, Kyoya."
A knock came from Hitomi's bedroom door.
"Yes, come in." She ordered.
A servant entered and bowed. "Your parents now request your presence, Miss Hitomi."
--+--
Kyoya and Hitomi entered the dining room together and into the company of Hitomi's parents, Kyoya's father, and the twins' mother.
"You called?"
"Yes, Hitomi." Seiko began. "We have come to the jurisdiction that you will remain engaged to Kyoya."
"But it will be your decision if you want to continue the engagement." Miyoko concluded.
Hitomi smiled and said, "Yes, I do want to continue pursuing this engagement."
"Then I guess that is that." Yoshio finished.
Tomoyo grinned. "I guess, my family and I will await this marriage with great anticipation. We wish you only the best."
--+--
Epilogue
Nine years later…
Kyoya paced around the foyer of his mansion – his own mansion, not the one he grew up in – his last strand of patience being shredded. He turned to an awaiting servant and said, "Please find Mrs. Ohtori and tell her to hurry up. We are going to be late!"
Before the servant could move, Hitomi's voice said, "There is no need. I'm right here." She was at the top of the stairs, her stomach a considerable size now.
Kyoya and Hitomi went through the rest of Ouran together and into college. They got married at the age of twenty-three, and now, at the age of twenty-six, they were expecting their first child. More like it, triplets. They both succeeded their fathers' business, especially the merged companies. After all, like Seiko Itachi had said before, both were the key to the other's hidden talent.
"I have already determined that it will take only thirty minutes to reach the Suoh's main mansion." Hitomi answered as she slowly wobbled down the stairs. Tamaki's grandmother had passed away the previous year, ultimately, allowing Tamaki to succeed his family. The party was in his name.
"What really gets determined is how fast the pace the car drives at and how bad traffic is." Kyoya countered. "And I have told you before, Hitomi. Do not go upstairs. You are going to over exercise yourself and the babies. I shall have the servants move all of our belongings into one of the ground floor bedrooms."
"Don't worry, Kyoya. I won't over exercise too much. You try being eight months pregnant." She grumbled.
"I would rather not."
Hitomi finally made it down the stairs and joined her husband in the foyer. Kyoya took her hand into his own and kissed it gently. He spotted one of the rings on one of her fingers. "Hey, isn't this that cheap commoner mood ring Tamaki gave you?" He asked.
Hitomi chuckled. "Yes, it is."
"It's currently dark blue."
"Oh, that means I'm happy right now." She answered.
"This ring may say you are happy right now, but what about your eyes? Do they contribute to your current mood as well or your current life with me?" Kyoya asked.
Hitomi smiled happily at him.
"Both."
Das Ende.
Well, there you go! The end of this awesome work! It has been fun (and certainly fast as well)!! By the way, "Das Ende" is German for The End. I don't know why I made it like that, but I like it better than the usual "Fin" or "The End". No sequel! Sorry! It was kind of hard to write out Kyoya's characater without messing him up. xP Well, anyway, review please! I hope you enjoyed this as much as I did!