Chapter 38: Jin Takes a Risk!

Slam!

Jin was laughing around her gasps as the doors to the performance hall fell shut behind them. They could still hear Benio's screams from beyond the wood, so they kept running. Jin had the building schematics in her phone, but Kyoya was the one who had been lead through the halls by the administrator personally, so he quickly took the lead.

He tugged at her hand that was still clasped tightly in his, "Follow me."

The two ran all the way through the building, finally ending up at one of the side entrances. Even then they didn't stop until they were all the way into the trees and flowering bushes that lined the hall. Finally they ended up in a clearing beneath a cherry tree, thankfully blocked from view from the building they'd just escaped. Now, even if the Zuka club managed to escape the auditorium and get outside, they'd never be spotted.

For a moment, they just stand there and catch their breath, but their hands stay tightly clasped.

As the adrenaline wears off, Kyoya looks over at Jin. She's still grinning widely, breathless laughter escaping her lips and her retractable staff clenched in her free hand. In the moonlight, she almost shines silver.

"That was so funny! Did you see her face? How'd you even get permission to be up there?"

"I have my ways."

"Uh huh."

Jin keeps laughing, straightening her back just to move closer, pressing her cheek against Kyoya's chest. It's not until he releases her hand to wraps his arms around her that the laughter begins to fade away, a look of content replacing it. She sighed deeply and nuzzled herself closer. It wasn't often that she got hugs from Kyoya, despite the many small touches they exchanged. Sure felt nice, though.

"Jin?"

"Mmm?"

"You're very warm."

"Oh… do you want me to-"

"No, no. It is... actually quite nice."

Jin's eyebrows furrowed. She knew Kyoya wasn't one for unnecessary physical contact whereas she craved it, only allowing brief touches from the other club members. But… then again, he did seem to be both initiating more contact and prolonging it nowadays. And only with her. Tamaki's spontaneous hugs were still a source of his annoyance, yet he seemed to really enjoy the hugs from her.

Now Jin's mind was running around frantically, different puzzle pieces started to click into place. Kyoya had been steering clear of her bruised side recently, though he always asked if she was in pain or needed something in relation to her injuries, never touching her in a way that might be painful. But before the bruise and other injuries...

She lifted her head slightly off his chest as more and more memories from the past five months began sliding up next to each other, putting together a nice little picture in her head. How they had gone ice skating together at the rink, blatantly concerned for her health and feelings in a way he never showed with the others, so many almost-kisses he hadn't been embarrassed by, how he knew her better than even her childhood friends, the anger he had shown when her pictures had been taken from him, her finding those pictures taped meticulously inside of his black journal the day afterwards, Haruhi's insistence that Kyoya liked her back…

It was all true.

Kyoya liked her.

Meanwhile, Kyoya was quietly running back though his words, knowing he must've said something terribly wrong. Jin had gone very still in his arms and he was trying to think of an apology -though he wasn't quite sure what for just yet- when she looked up at him. There was something... different in her eyes as she stared at him. He didn't dare speak.

And, as it turns out, he didn't need to.

Kyoya watched as hesitation momentarily filled her face before she quickly pushed herself up onto her toes... pressing their lips together.

It's more awkward than either of them had anticipated. Jin had miscalculated his height and their lips didn't exactly line up, Kyoya's bottom lip almost completely missing out on their first kiss. Their noses were sandwiched beside each other, making breathing difficult, and Jin felt like her whole body was leaning to the left as she tried to keep their mouths connected. Neither of them moved, one too terrified and one -surprisingly- caught off guard, so it was a simple awkward press of her lips on his. Jin felt Kyoya's grip around her tighten just a hair, but she couldn't tell whether he meant to do that or it was a simple unconscious action.

Once her worries grew to be too much to ignore, she quickly moved back, face flushed dark red. Instantly she was full of embarrassment and regret and feared she had miscalculated the situation horribly. She tried to stutter out an excuse and escape his hold on her, but Kyoya's arms quickly locked themselves around her waist tightly. His face was blank as he stared down at her, which didn't help matters.

"S-sorry. I didn't-"

Kyoya interrupted her.

The second kiss went much better than the first, their heads tilted to the sides so their mouths fit together more like puzzle pieces and less like- Kyoya quickly stopped thinking properly as Jin's hands darted into his hair, pulling him closer to her with a moan. It felt like everything was happening all at once and, at the same time, nothing at all. Each of Kyoya's senses were reeled in and centered at this exact moment as he tried to focus in on the fact he was actually kissing Jin Fujioka. How long had he been waiting for this? Months? All that time didn't seem real as Kyoya continued to enjoy his, technically second, kiss with her.

Third.

Was that the start of four or was this still-

Five? Or four?

Kyoya quickly stopped trying to count, hearing a groan slip out without his permission when Jin pulled away and interrupted the continuous stream, her hands now pressed against his chest.

"Kyoya… wait. Shouldn't… shouldn't we…"

The ravenet smirked, re-positioning his hands so one was cupping her jaw but the other still held her tight against him, and leaned in close again. Jin eyelids fluttered as their lips brushed, but didn't connect.

"We should…" Kyoya prompted.

"R-right. We… we…" he traced her cheekbone with his thumb and she sighed, kissing him hard for a few seconds, hands curling into his shirt. "Still so manipulative."

Jin felt more than heard the deep rumble from Kyoya's chest in response as he kissed her again.

Around the corner of the building, the rest of the host club tumbled their way out of the front doors. They weren't even allowed to catch their breath before Ranka was bearing down on his youngest daughter.

" Haruhi, you didn't tell me you had your first kiss! Is that the kind of stuff that goes on in your HOST CLUB? "

"It was an accident, Dad! I was only supposed to kiss her cheek but I tripped!"

Tamaki gasped, "Well, despite everything, I suppose we were lucky that Kyoya got his hands on that picture or this event would've been uglier than it was. That was good thinking, Ranka."

"What are you talking about? That's not what I asked him to do!" The man snapped, still clearly irked that his daughter had 'forgotten' to tell him about that little accident.

"Wait… then what did you ask him to do?"

Ranka sighed, pulling an emergency makeup remover out of his back pocket and started rubbing at Haruhi's face, "I wanted him to go away. Hide. Not be around us at all. I knew that those Zuka club girls would remember Jin and wonder where she was, but if Kyoya wasn't with us then they would've assumed the two of them were on a date. He's very lucky he wasn't spotted by them, or Jin would've lost the element of surprise."

The boys were shocked into momentary silence as Ranka finished up with Haruhi's eyes. The girl reached up to pull the hair-extensions out as her father began using his second wipe when the twins managed to regain their speech. It never did take long with them.

"Wait a minute…"

"Are you saying that Kyoya-senpai-"

"-and my eldest daughter are idiots for not getting together yet? Yes. Misuzu gave me regular updates over the course of your summer together. I heard all about Amaya, and your handmade waterpark, and the teas and breakfasts they shared, and even the thunderstorm incidents. As much as I hate to admit it, they are good for each other. Besides, he's a respectful boy, so I feel somewhat comfortable with him being around my daughter. Just as long as there's no touching or intimate gestures until they're married."

Haruhi rolled her eyes, peeling her gloves off, "Nēchan is way to passionate to agree to that, Dad, no matter who she's with. And Kyoya probably wouldn't deny her at least a kiss or two, at least in private, so I don't think that would work."

"Hang on… where is Jin-chan?"

"Yeah, and where's Kyoya?"

"They did get out, right? Nēchan said she'd come find us after they escaped."

The twins started running away before anyone could say anything, "We'll go look for them!"

"Hikaru? Kaoru! You little- Fine! Just don't get caught!"

* Time Skip *

They didn't have to look far.

The twins rounded the corner of the building and came to a stop. Kyoya had been looking in the direction of this side of the building before he disappeared, so the redheads figured it was as good of a place as any to start their search. And besides, there were plenty of trees and bushes for the two to hide in if they had been followed out, so of course the two most level-headed people in their group would escape this way.

But... there was a strange sound coming from the bushes. Their mischievous trait quickly came into play. Hikaru pressed a single finger to his lips, a signal imitated by his brother before the two slowly slipped through the leafy bushes. After a little light rustling, the redheads peeked out into a small clearing littered with a few fallen cherry blossoms.

Hikaru opened his mouth, probably to scream something along the lines of 'FINALLY', but Kaoru covered his mouth.

They had found Kyoya and Jin alright. Just… not in the way they had expected.

The two were tangled around each other in the center of the clearing, hands all over each other as their lips locked. Jin's fingers were running through the short hairs on the back of Kyoya's neck, her other hand gripping his shirt tightly in a fist, as if the boy would disappear if she let go. And Kyoya was no better. He had both of his hands gripping at Jin's hips, kissing her for the first time in a way that did not show off his upbringing.

Hikaru and Kaoru weren't sure if what they were feeling was relief or if they were going to be sick. Partially because thank God they're actually together now but on the other hand ew, I just saw tongue. Thankfully, before they felt too nauseated, the two 2nd year students parted, gasping.

Jin was smiling like there was no tomorrow, her arms slipping around Kyoya's neck, "Kyoya… I really like you. A lot."

The twins could honestly say that they had never seen Kyoya like this before. For once, the well put together Vice President was short of breath and completely red in the face, but he also looked happier than ever. Like, Honey's-not-eating-a-truckload-of-sweets-every-day kind of happiness, but also a little more. It was sweet. If not somewhat disturbing to them.

He chuckled, pressing his forehead down against the girl's, "The feeling is mutual, it seems. So, Miss Fujioka, would you do me the honor of becoming my girlfriend?"

Jin's response is quickly pushing herself up onto her toes to reconnect their lips. Kyoya gladly returned the sentiment, a low groan slipping out.

Ever so slowly, trying to not make a sound, the twins backtracked out of the bush and out of the little garden area. They look at each other before shivering, minor disgust taking over their bodies. That was far more PDA than they had ever experienced before, in real life or movies, and it was only weirder knowing they had just watched their senpai's making out.

Overcoming the minor spasms for the moment, they straightened up.

"Oh, Jin~senpai~"

"Kyo~ya~senpai~"

"Where are... you~?"

From deep within the bushes and trees there came the sound of quick shuffling, and soon enough Jin and Kyoya emerged. Jin was straightening out her clothes while Kyoya attempted to flatten out his hair.

"There you boys are!" Jin sighed, "I was worried you had taken off without us! Kyo-kun got himself stuck in a bush. Took forever get him out." The twins struggle to hide their smirks. Jin was one crafty liar. But not crafty enough...

"That's okay. Come on, the others are waiting at the front of the building."

"We should get out of here."

Jin nods and hurries off to find her sister and father, fingers coming up to touch at her smiling lips when she thinks the twins can't see her. Kyoya moves to follow, but the twins hold up their hands in a 'stop' gesture. He arched an eyebrow, which quickly turned into wide eyes.

"Your lips look a little swollen there, Kyoya-senpai." Kaoru taps his lower lip playfully.

Hikaru shakes his head, "For the record, we totally thought you'd ask Jin out before you two made out like the horny teenagers you are."

They turn around, slinking off after Jin, "See you at school tomorrow~"

Kyoya remains still for a moment, trying to decide whether he should tell the two now that they didn't really have the dangerous blackmail they thought they had, or just let them run with it until tomorrow. Deciding it would be best to let Jin tell Ranka on her own that they were a couple, when the man couldn't tackle him into the ground and rip his head off, the boy sighed and started walking. No doubt the twins would try to use their information for terrible jokes and 'hints' for the other boys until tomorrow. This would be... interesting.

"KyOOOOOOOYYYYYYAAAAAAAA! WE NEED TO GOOOOOOO!"

He rolled his eyes, but a smirk tugged at his lips. Not even knowing his best friend would be wailing for the rest of the night how his 'precious Haruhi' had almost been forced to kiss another girl could ruin his mood now.