Disclaimer: I own nothing but my own character.

A/N: This is the second part of my For the Love of the Host Club series (Just came up with that... think it's awesome!) The first part was my story Tryst with the Shadow King. If you haven't read it, it tells how Kyoya and Haruhi get together. Warning- it is rated M for a reason! If you don't like that kind of thing, don't worry. This story doesn't have much carryover, so you shouldn't get lost.

Please sit back and enjoy!

It had been another long day in Host Club, but, thankfully, it was almost over. Kaoru glanced at HIkaru for what felt like the hundredth time. Anyone looking at the pair wouldn't see anything wrong. Kaoru, however, knew his brother better than anyone. He could tell that the smile was fake, the laughter was forced, and the act was more put on than usual. He could see that the playful spark was gone from Hikaru's eyes. While he had a good idea as to the cause, Kaoru didn't have a clue as to how to go about fixing it.

Hikaru kissed the hand of his last guest as she left. He gave her a fleeting smile causing her to squeal rather loudly. He just wished she'd hurry and go. The girls were giving him a headache, and he wanted to be alone with his thoughts- and away from Kaoru's questioning gaze. Hikaru grabbed his bag and started out the door alone. He walked the corridor lost in his own world, and so didn't notice the blue-green gaze that followed him.

Hikaru got into the waiting car and let his thoughts wander a week back. It was that stupid beach trip. If they hadn't gone on that trip, Haruhi and the boss wouldn't have had that fight, Haruhi wouldn't have ended up alone with Kyoya-senpai, and those two wouldn't have gotten together. And Hikaru might have still had a chance with her.

Hikaru almost hated attending the Host Club since then. The actual Club hours weren't so bad. For the sake of the guests, they still had to pretend Haruhi was a guy, so she and Kyoya-senpai couldn't exactly advertise their relationship. Hikaru knew they'd be together after, though, and that's all he could think about during club hours. It was pure torture. He couldn't tell Kaoru about it, either, because then Kaoru would feel guilty for having told him in the first place. Not that he was mad at Kaoru for telling him. On the contrary, he was glad to have been told by someone who cared for him rather than to find out suddenly by accident like the others. Now he just had to learn to deal with it and get past it.

Misaki Ikeda sat in class the next day waiting for him to arrive. When he entered the room, she didn't even nothice the two who walked in behind him. She never did. She had eyes for only one person. When the three took their seats and started preparing for class, Misaki worked up enough courage to finally speak to the boy sitting beside her. "Um, e-excuse me, Kaoru-kun," Misaki began timidly, "is something wrong with Hikaru-kun? He seems really down lately."

A look of surprise briefly crossed his features before he covered it with disdain and answered, "I'm Hikaru. That's Kaoru." The surprise came back when she smiled softly.

"No you're not." She looked directly into his eyes as she said it. She vaguely registered a muffled giggle from the other side of Kaoru-kun. Misaki looked around him to see that new boy, Haruhi-san, trying his hardest not to laugh.

"She's totally got you, Kaoru," Haruhi said with a smile. Kaoru didn't have time for more than a dirty look aimed in her direction before the teacher walked to the front of the class.

"Everyone, today we are going to begin group projects. You will be working in pairs, and I will assign your partners." Hikaru only listened halfway while the teacher outlined the details of the project, then started naming students two at a time. "Kaoru Hitachiin and Haruhi Fujioka." Good, Hikaru thought, with them together, I won't have to worry about either of them questioning my moods. I couldn't face Haruhi right now, anyway.

Hikaru was so deep in thought, he almost missed his name being called. "Hikaru Hitachiin and Misaki Ikeda." Hikaru frowned at the unfamiliar name and looked around, wondering whom he had been paired with. He noticed a girl with dark hair and blue-green eyes looking at him shyly from her seat beside Kaoru. That must be her, he thought. When she noticed him looking back at her, he saw a faint blush flood her cheeks, and she looked away. Great, thought Hikaru, just a little annoyed, I'm stuck with a fangirl.

Several hours later, Misaki stood in the corridor watching the doors of Music Room 3 from her favorite vantage point. It was a place where she could see, but not be seen. She knew the Host Club would be finished soon. Sure enough, a few minutes later the doors opened and a horde of girls came pouring out. When they were gone, Misaki left her hiding place and approached the doors. She had just about worked up the courage to enter when they opened again. The good-looking blonde who came out looked surprised to see her for only a moment before going immediately into host-mode.

"My darling princess, I'm so very sorry to have to tell you, but club hours have ended for the day. Perhaps you could come back tomorrow? I would be honored to host you myself, if you so desired." Misaki was a little overwhelmed by his act. She recognized him, of course; he was Tamaki-senpai of the second-year class. He was also the chairman's son, if the rumors were true.

Just as she was about to back up a step to regain her personal space, Misaki heard someone else exit the room behind Tamaki-senpai. "Tama-chan, I don't think she's here for the Host Club. The way the girls in school talk about it, everyone knows when we meet." Misake looked back to the door, her eyes growing wide, to see a small boy followed by a much larger man. Idiot! She mentally smacked herself in the forehead. That's those two third-year cousins, Haninozuka-senpai and Morinozuka-senpai.

Misaki mentally shook herself and answered Tamaki-senpai, "That's right. I was actually looking for Hikaru Hitachiin. We have a project to work on together for class."

He smiled and bent over her hand saying, "In that case, be my guest. He's still inside." With that, the three older boys started off leaving Misaki to enter on her own.

Misaki walked in and found Hikaru-kun right away. He didn't notice her at first. He was putting his things in his bag and occasionally glancing at the group across the room. Misaki looked over and noticed another boy talking to Kaoru-kun and Haruhi-san. By process of elimination (she had already identified the other hosts), this had to be Kyoya-senpai. His looks fit what the other girls said about him. However, she had come here for a reason.

Misaki turned back to the boy in front of her. She thought he looked unhappy again for some reason. She didn't get it. Hikaru-kun was always so upbeat and outgoing. He was so passionate about life. Always looking for the next prank to play. Always with a smile on his face. But not lately. For about a week now, it seemed like he'd just been going through the motions. She wished she could help him. She missed the old Hikaru-kun.

"Hikaru-kun," Misaki started, "can I talk to you?"

Hikaru looked up to see the girl who was assigned as his partner for the group project. He'd show this fangirl just who she was dealing with. He gave her a look full of contempt and said, "Are you blind? I'm Kao-"

"No you're not," Misaki interrupted. "Why do you two always do that? Kaoru-kun did the same thing to me this morning saying he was you. Honestly, they way you guys react when people do get it wrong, one would think you would appreciate the people who get it right." She would have continued, but she was suddenly distracted. Kyoya-senpai was raising his voice in response to something Kaoru-kun had just said.

"But Kyoya-senpai, I promise nothing will happen!" Kaoru whined. Why can't I just work with her at my house?"

Kyoya wasn't quite as cool and collected as usual when he answered, "Well, Kaoru, it's simple. I don't trust you as far as I can throw you, and since I am neither Mori-senpai nor Honey-senpai, that's not far at all. Plus, since this is my girlfriend we are talking about, I trust you even less. I will not have her working with you with no supervision!"

Misaki listened in confusion. Hmmm, she thought, I hadn't heard that Kyoya-senpai even had a girlfriend. But what did he mean about her working with Kaoru-kun? I thought his partner was Haruhi-san. Just then she watched as Haruhi-san rested a hand on Kyoya-senpai's arm. He was looking at Kyoya-senpai with a look on his face that a guy should definitely not have when looking at another guy. And... Kyoya-senpai was looking back with the same look!

"Kyoya, I am perfectly capable of handling Kaoru, but if it makes you feel better, we will do our work here where you can keep an eye on things, and you can take me home when we're done. Okay with you?"

Kyoya smiled softly at Haruhi. "Alright, Kanmi. I'll just wait over here. I have some things to work on, anyway." He brushed a soft kiss across her lips and went back to his laptop.

Wait, What?! Misaki's jaw had dropped a while ago, but this was just too much. She turned wide-eyed back to Hikaru-kun who was shoving things in his bag with even more force than before. "Um, Hikaru-kun? Can I ask you a question?" she asked nervously. He didn't answer, but he was at least looking at her, so she went on, blushing slightly. "Um, are Kyoya-senpai and Haruhi-san gay, or is Haruhi-san actually a girl?"

Hikaru's eyes got wide and his head whipped around to stare at the other group before coming back to his partner. Damn! We were all so careless! Hikaru was angry at himself. None of the others had known she was there. They didn't usually get people in the club room after hours, so they hadn't seen a need for caution. Hikaru admitted to himself that he had been distracted. First she had asked that question about him and Kaoru and had made him think (and he still didn't know the answer), then the others had raised their voices and drawn his attention, and he had practically forgotten she was there. When he had seen Kyoya-senpai kiss Haruhi, he just knew he had to get out of there. It was one thing to know they were dating; it was another thing entirely to see it.

Hikaru closed his eyes and exhaled sharply through his nose. When he opened his eyes, he tried to look at her a little more kindly, knowing that none of this was her fault. "I apologize. This has been a very long week, so please forgive me for having to ask, but what was your name again?" She blushed again and answered, "Misaki Ikeda."

"Well, Misaki-san, to answer your question, no they are not gay. Haruhi is actually a girl. She only pretends to be a boy for the sake of the Host Club. Don't ask, I'll explain later," Hikaru said when she started to speak. He stood and gestured towards the others. "Come with me and I'll introduce you." He led the way to where Kaoru and Haruhi were sitting at a table. Hikaru placed a hand on Misaki's back and drew her closer to the others. "Haruhi, Kaoru, this is Misaki Ikeda. She's my partner for the group project, and, thanks to you guys not being able to keep your voices down, she also knows that Haruhi is a girl."

Misaki blanched at what she felt was Hikaru-kun putting her on the spot. Haruhi-san just smiled at her, though, and it seemed to be a smile designed to put her at ease. "Hello, Misaki-san. I'm Haruhi Fujioka. To tell you the truth, I'm kind of glad you found out. I think it will be nice to have a friend I can talk to girl to girl. Would that be okay with you? I mean, if I called you my friend?"

Misaki smiled at Haruhi-chan and nodded, "I would like that very much, Haruhi-chan." Haruhi-chan's eyes seemed to light up at the change in honorifics. It was very easy to see why so many of the girls in school gushed about her as a host. It seemed like she just naturally knew exactly what to say, and she didn't seem fake at all. Misaki could tell that Haruhi-chan genuinely meant what she said. She wanted to be friends and even looked forward to it.

Hikaru threw his bag over his shoulder and waved his hand in a follow me gesture. "Come on Misaki-chan," he said. If she was going to be friends with Haruhi, they would all probably end up being friends, so there was no use continuing with formalities. "If Kaoru and Haruhi are working here, that means we can work in peace at my house." Misaki-chan's eyes seemed to brighten, and she smiled and followed after him.

Okay, tell me what you think so far. Should I have more carryover from Kyoya and Haruhi? I have some ideas for how the basic story should go, but the actual details are always a surprise for even me! (I love not knowing exactly where the story will go). If you have some ideas, let me know and I'll see what I can do.

Thanks! I love you guys!

AnimeFan

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