The Princess Without Her Tower

[hostclubshadowking]

Who: Kyouya Otori and Renge Houshakuji
Where: Port Chance
When: July 12th
What: A "rescue" and reunion.
Warnings: None likely, will update if necessary.
Style: Either.

It took him two days, but Kyouya made his way to Port Chance. Inquires were made. It didn't take him long to find where Renge had holed up. At least, he found himself thinking, the place was still in one piece.

It was about breakfast time, and, well, if he knew Renge, she'd be enjoying something more expensive than her budget ought to have allowed. After all, she'd taken a private jet to Japan on what basically amounted to a whim.

Still, he went in and looked around. Their kind -- the outsiders -- always stuck out, especially when they were new. Finding her wasn't hard.

Kyouya approached. Tamaki had arrived only a month after him, and he'd thought he looked different then. Now, the life he'd been living was etched into him. Skin dark from the constant exposure to sun without any way to prevent burning, rough from the wind and salt and work, body thin from the lack of consistent meals, hair only somewhat trimmed and devoid of any product, clothes with only an approximation of high-class style that were already worn-looking. He wasn't the vice-president of the Host Club anymore; he was the former first mate of a ship.

"Renge."

It wasn't good to see her; it wasn't bad.

He was just grateful he'd gotten to her before she'd been hurt or the like.

Comments

[managedthat]

She kept her promise, surprisingly-- Renge had not been in any trouble past the first day, and she had done her very best to stay within her budget. (She was a little over, but she'd made deals with every member of the staff to ease up on her. After all, business was swinging right now, wasn't it? What was a little bit less from her?) She managed to get a small group of people around her, listening to her tell stories of some odd place called Ouran Academy, describing such luxury in a way that her audience must have though of the Host Club as kings. That, or very stupid. Either way, she's making a bit of money as a pseudo-entertainer. Her stories continue until she hears her name from a voice she is more than happy to hear.

The person it's attached too, though, surprises her in so many ways.

She closes up shop immediately, sending the listeners on their way, but promising more tales later. She leaves the table, and if this situation wasn't happening, she wouldn't even consider touching him. But seeing him, no matter how different, is a strange thing, and she embraces him tightly.

"Kyouya... I'm so glad to see you!" That is true, of course, but she's torn between squealing and crying, so it doesn't sound quite as enthusiastic as normal.

[hostclubshadowking]

Unlike their first meeting, Kyouya doesn't just stand still and wait for her to let go of him. He doesn't embrace her, as Tamaki might have, but he does steady a hand behind her head for a couple of seconds before releasing her. If there's one thing he's learned, it's that, here, especially, friends are everything. And Renge is a friend. In her own peculiar, bizarre way (like with all of them), she's become a friend. She's part of the family.

"You seem to be taking care of yourself." Not quite as cool, as dismissive, as utterly above everything as he usually sounded. It's been a long ten months. "That's good."

There's still so much to do. So much that needs to be done. Everything has to be explained, has to be brought into some sort of clarity. At least she's been housed and fed lately.

"Haruhi and I are both here." He won't -- can't tell her about the others. Not yet. "But... I'm sure you have a lot of questions. Hopefully, I can help."

[managedthat]

The touch he offers gets her to tear up a little bit. He'd never shown her any real affection-- not until now. It was amazing how many feelings she'd had since arriving here; she surely covered the entire spectrum of emotions now. Pulling away from him, she wipes at her eyes and offers him a grateful smile. He didn't have to pick up up. He didn't have to even talk to her.

"I did my best to in the ways I knew how. People here seem to like stories, though. I made a little money. It's all yours, if you want it."

A small payment for him helping her. Renge has learned that every cent counts here-- she doesn't know how much he spent trying to get her, but it was more than he needed to. To be in someone's debt was a truly strange feeling. Still, she perks up at the mention of Haruhi, and nods enthusiastically.

"I spoke with Haruhi-kun and a few others, but I was mostly glad to hear from you and him. Though, you two... have been here longer, haven't you? Which is impossible by most standards. Except webcomics..." A poor joke on her part, but at least it's offered. "Maybe we should sit down, and we can sort out everything..."

[hostclubshadowking]

Kyouya would like to tell her to keep her money. He would love to have that luxury. But money is scarce here. He isn't going to just take it, though. Which is why his voice is somewhat reluctant -- the layer over his wounded pride thin and cracking -- when he speaks.

"We'll pool our money. Haruhi and I still have some funds."

It's distasteful in his mouth, sharp and bitter. Almost any conditions here, he can bear. Not easily, but he can adapt if it means surviving. Needing help, though. Having to cave to ask others for charity (even just taking them in). That is the hardest blow to him. Because he's supposed to be able to provide.

"This place... really is something out of a manga," he admitted. "We'll discuss it over dinner, perhaps. It's... a very strange story."

[managedthat]

Seeing Kyouya like this breaks her heart-- out of all her friends, he is the most capable, but knowing that's he's been forced into a most unsavoury predicament keeps the lump in her throat. He looks so different, and surely he's thinking, feeling differently. But nurture does not cancel out nature, and she knows that he's still an heir at his core, unwilling to forgo the best.

But it appears that the both of them will have to, if they haven't already.

Renge offers him a smile and takes his hand in hers, keeping her eyes on his. "That sounds like a great idea. I'd be happy to help both of you as much as possible! It's honestly the least I can do!"

Mention of dinner with him makes her heart flutter, but only for a minute. This is not her dreams coming true. This is a harsher reality than she would've ever known back home. "Dinner. Sounds great! I can try to talk to the innkeeper here about that-- I can figure out how to get it free, or make a solid deal with her. But for now, why don't you sit down? It must've been a long trip for you..."