a/n: Completely pointless KyouxHaru fluff. Because I couldn't get the plot bunny out of system. It only took me about half an hour… and it's short… but it's certainly cute. :3

"Ouch."

"Ohmph."

Thump.

"Eh? Who-"

"Haruhi? Is that you?"

"Kyouya-senpai?"

The slight female fumbled in the near-pitch-dark for the doorknob. She jiggled it, but groaned out loud when she realized it refused to yield. The two were silent for a moment, and to the ears on the door the moment was purely awkward.

"Hikaru? Kaoru?"

"No use shouting, they wont' hear us."

"They pushed us in her didn't they?"

"Well, I didn't see, but yes, that would be the logical conclusion."

"Why in the world would they lock us into a broom cupboard?"

"…"

"Kyouya-senpai?"

"To torture Tamaki, I suspect."

"Oh."

Silence again.

"Why would that bother Tamaki?"

Kyouya inhaled slowly. Then he exhaled slowly. Then he said:

"I have so much work to do. This isn't a very good time." His voice raised on the second part of his statement, intended for the ears which he knew were pressed outside the door.

The two were quiet again.

"So… wait… who's out there?" she spoke in a whisper.

"The devil clones."

"Oh."

Pause."

"Hikaru and Kaoru," Kyouya told her in a low voice, before she could ask who the devil clones were.

"I knew that," she said, irritated. "But I still don't understand about-"

"DARLING DAUGHTER! What were those despicable demons doing?!?"

"Tamaki," greeted Haruhi flatly, squinting as sudden light pored in.

"That's a lot of ' d's ', Tono," the twin on the left (Kaoru) dryly commented.

Tamaki blinked then went white. "Kyouya?" But then he shook his head rapidly, as though discarding a very dirty though. "But, of course, she was safe in your dependable, gentlemanly, hands."

Tamaki stuck his tongue out at the twins in a flash that was hardly visible to the eye.

Kyouya, who was cramped in right against Haruhi, rose. In as "gentlemanly" a manner as he could manage in such cramped quarters, he took her hand and helped her up, as well, so that their noses were almost touching.

Hunny, on Mori's shoulders, had come in to observe, as well, idly licking a lollipop. But the other four hosts – most noticeably, Tamaki, who was turning slightly purple – were holding their breath.

Kyouya and Haruhi, however, seemed completely oblivious to this near-contact.

"Ladies first," said Kyouya pleasantly. And Haruhi stepped out of the cupboard. They all breathed.

"Now," Kyouya said, a menacing gleam striking his glasses, "if two certain devils will excuse me, I have some work to do."

Kaoru and Hikaru could be persistent when they wanted, but when a game was over (or, rather, when they had lost interest) they were quick to toss it aside.

Perhaps, if they'd kept dogging on, they would have seen what happened later that day, after the host club had dismissed and only two members remained; donning their fall jackets and saying their goodbyes.

But perhaps it's best they didn't. After all, they didn't truly want anything but a reaction from Tamaki.

If they had stayed, though, they would have seen Kyouya quietly, clandestinely, slip his hand into Haruhi's just as she was about to go. Tugging her back. She would look over her shoulder, completely unsurprised.

And in one quiet motion, he would meet her lips with his. Lightly, discreetly, and then it was over.

And then Haruhi would smile.

"Time to get going, then."

And then Kyouya would smile, too.

And as they disappeared down the corridor – looking like nothing more than two friends – her echoing, fading voice could be heard.

"Why exactly would our being in a broom cupboard bother Tamaki?"