A/N: Why am I publishing two stories within an hour when I'm only a new member? (Shrug) Anyway, when you review, NO SPOILERS Seriously. I'm talking nothing--but nothing--past the anime. Clear? 'Kay.

Looking back, Haruhi could name the exact day that her life as she knew it deconstructed bit by bit.

Thursday, April 26.

Haruhi was a third-year at Ouran High School, and in two months, a first-year at a college known for its law classes. Yet, though her debt had been paid off long ago, and though she would soon be in the much more business world of law school, the Host Club was a regular part of her life. Odd, since Mori, Hunny, Tamaki, and Kyouya had all graduated. The only original members of the Host Club were Hikaru, Kaoru, and herself. A few more boys had joined, but in Haruhi's eyes, they were much less adept at romancing women then any of the previous members, especially when compared to the King, Tamaki. Yet the girls kept coming, probably attracted to the more personable aspect these new hosts provided.

In any event, Haruhi would soon be out of the Host Club for good, and she still had mixed feelings about that.

She was studying for that very future she was planning, when her okama father, dressed for work already, came breezing into her room, and handed her a pile of letters, one already opened.

"You have mail, Haruhi!" her father said in a sing-song voice, the voice that meant he wasn't sure whether something was offensive or amusing, and was trying to hide it from her.

Haruhi took a cursory glance at the stack.

"No, these are addressed to you, Dad," she said, her eyes automatically reverting to the notes in front of her.

"Just the first one," he said, but picking it up and taking the paper out of the envelope, "but I'll read that one for you."He cleared his throat, took the paper in one hand regally, and said in the most kingly voice he could muster, said very clearly: "My dear Ryoji Fujioka, I would be honored if you would extend your daughter's hand in marriage to me, the heir to the Suou family fortune and companies, Tamaki Suou."

"Honestly?" Haruhi said, an involuntary spasm rocketing it's way through her body.

"It goes on, with lots of flowery language, but that's the gist of it, kid."

Haruhi blinked, feeling a cold trickle she hadn't felt in a year make its slow way across her entire body.

"And, bet any money, those other two are also marriage proposals," Ranka said, winking, "Well, see you tomorrow, Haruhi. Don't do anything drastic like bomb threats without calling me. Love you!"

"Love you too, Dad," Haruhi said mechanically.

Slowly, she picked up the letter Ranka had thrown carelessly on her desk. He was right. The rest of the letter went on to describe how well Tamaki would "take care of your darling, precious princess of a daughter for the rest of her life, even if God would be so cruel to take me away from her before then."

Swallowing bile, Haruhi picked up another one. Ootori. Addressed to her, instead of her father, which was a good start. That letter was much more business-like and straightforward. Haruhi almost picked up the phone and called Kyouya, saying yes just for not being Tamaki. She stopped herself, realizing that the signature was his father's.

So, it was one of those types of arranged marriages. Funny, she wasn't even considered to be marriageable age yet, much less past it.

Feeling much more calm, she reached for the last one. Hitachiin. Well, was it Hikaru or Kaoru? She was mostly against the idea of marrying either one, (or any of the Host Club members, past or present, for that matter) but after Kyouya's father's calm appraisal of her abilities, intelligence and potential benefit for the Ootori's extensive interests, Haruhi felt that maybe she could deal with it.

This one was neither ostentatious and overly romantic, nor cool and formal, but a little more on the awkward, teenage-crush-obsession side. From Hikaru.

Sitting back in her chair, Haruhi considered her prospects.

Either she could marry Tamaki, Kyouya, or Hikaru, or none of them.

A few years ago, she would have said no without hesitation, and not regret it. Now? Well…

Leaving her desk the way it was, Haruhi got up, got ready for bed, and turned off the house lights. All thoughts of studying abandoned, she picked up her pillow and blanket, and made her way into the apartment's living room. She set the pillow and blanket down on the floor, in front of her mother's shrine.

She needed to borrow the tranquility and serenity that woman had possessed while she was living. For this one night only.