Disclaimer: Ouran High School Host Club belongs to Bisco Hatoti.

AN: This is my first foray into a chaptered Ouran story. As you are reading this, I am still plotting it out, so I don't know how frequent updates will be, although I do intend to make this somewhere around 6 to 7 chapters or so. This story takes place 3 years after Haruhi and the twins graduate from high school, placing their ages at 21, Kyōya and Tamaki at 22, and Honey and Mori at around 24 and 23 respectively. A final note, this is a Kyōya/Haruhi story, although it isn't a 'how they got together' story. I'm working on that for another story that has nothing to do with this one, though. Thanks for reading!

Yuzuha Hitachiin throwing a huge charity gala was not information that would normally interest Haruhi. Yuzuha Hitachiin throwing a huge charity gala for underprivileged youth was a bit more appealing to Haruhi, but still not something that would give her pause for more than a few moments. Yuzuha Hitachiin throwing a huge charity gala for underprivileged youth, designing Haruhi a dress and sending her sons to make sure she received the dress, put it on, and attended the gala that night annoyed Haruhi beyond anything she could imagine.

The only benefit lay in seeing the look on Kyōya's face when she and the Hitachiin twins arrived at his mansion to pick him up for previously mentioned huge charity gala, which made some of Haruhi's misery just slightly more bearable.

It true Hitachiin fashion, no pun intended, all the guests were dressed to the nines. Dazzling gowns and sleek tuxedos adorned the guests. The Hostess herself wore a sleek navy gown that looked like it had been sown onto her, at least as far as Haruhi could tell. (She was never able to be certain of these things.) Her own dress was elegant yet simple, something she was sure the twins, or at least Kaoru, has a hand in.

A few hours after arriving at the gala, Haruhi had to admit to herself, the evening wasn't as horrible as it could have been. While she and Kyōya chatted with a few former classmates from their high school days, and a bevy from college, the other members of the Host Club were milling about. The atmosphere was light and jovial, a far cry from some of the events Kyōya often asked her to accompany him to.

The couple would receive the occasional complement, which Kyōya took in stride while Haruhi, used to them but still not comfortable with, would smile and thank the person for their kind words. Currently, the two were speaking with an elderly English woman. Her comments served to amuse Kyōya to no end, Haruhi noted with a slight pout.

"And who was she again?" Haruhi asked as the elderly woman who had just spoken to them went off to mingle again.

Adjusting his glasses slightly, he answered. "Maryanne Levine. Founder of LVD Fashions of Europe. She's a personal friend of the Hitachiin family. A bit peculiar, but she does come from the Fashion industry."

"It doesn't hurt to be polite," Haruhi chided.

Smirking, Kyōya took in her demeanor. "No, it does not. And Madame Levine seemed to be quite taken by you."

Haruhi snorted, shaking her head. "Yeah, because I was the one she called 'exquisitely handsome'."

"She could have been speaking about you," Kyōya quipped. Haruhi shot him a frustrated glance. Slightly swaying from side to side, she then smiled slyly. This caused the skirt of her dress to sway gently. Kyōya merely raised an eyebrow at her actions.

"You helpless flirt," she stated. Both eyebrows raised. "Do you find me 'exquisitely handsome,' Kyōya?"

"But of course," he said smoothly. Shrugging he added, "And it doesn't hurt that my date is the only one with an exclusive gown custom designed by the very people throwing this gala, which allows her to stand far above the other invitees this evening." Blushing slightly at his words, Haruhi squeezed his hand in hers. "Never mind the fact that you simply look stunning in lavender."

The blush on her face deepened at his complement. Looking up at him, she smiled brightly at him, pleased to see his warm grey eyes without the glare of his lenses. He smiled at her in return.

Theirs was an odd relationship to many outsiders. The dark, silent Shadow King (a title he never fully renounced even after graduating high school) and the candid, semi-serious commoner. When the relationship started towards the middle of her second year at Ouran, there were many whispers about how it wouldn't last for a number of reasons, the most obvious being their differing worlds. Needless to say that when Kyōya introduced Haruhi to his family as his girlfriend, they were both shocked to receive an immediate blessing from the Ootori patriarch.

It came as no surprise to anyone that Ranka already had a wedding venue picked out before Haruhi had even informed him of her relationship. Haruhi had apologized to Kyōya on multiple occasions over her father's antics, but Kyōya quite enjoyed the eccentric man.

Five years later, the two were still going steady and proving those who spoke ill of them wrong time and again.

"As a matter of fact," Kyōya continued, grabbing Haruhi's attention again, "I do believe that the Ootori Group ought to make a generous contribution to this charity. It is, after all, the reason I get to see you looking 'exquisitely handsome.'"

Haruhi laughed out loud. "I happen to think that is a great idea."

"I thought you might," he said, bringing their entwined hands to his lips and placing a gentle kiss on hers. "If you'll excuse me for a moment."

Haruhi nodded, motioning that she was going to get something to drink. Kyōya nodded and headed off to speak to one of the twins about his donation. Sighing, Haruhi watched him make his way across the room with a content smile on her face.

Carefully, she made her way to the drinks table. Her floor-length gown impeded her steps, and despite years of Hikaru and Kaoru attempting to teach her, going so far as the wear the shoes themselves and show her how to walk in them properly, Haruhi was still a novice when it came to high heels.

As she neared her target, someone stepped on the back of her gown, causing her to lose her balance. A pair of arms grab her before she can topple over. With assistance from the man who rescued her from a horribly embarrassing disaster, Haruhi was standing on her two feet and upright again.

"Thank you for that," she told the man who still had his hands on her upper arms. He was a tall man, almost as tall as Mori-senpai, with deep, penetrating hazel eyes. He was staring at her, the look on his face not one she was accustomed to, and it was a bit unnerving. Haruhi smiled at him nervously. She tried to back away from him and shrug off his hands, only to have him step closer to her. "Um…sir? If you wouldn't mind…?"

The man continued to stare at her, looking her straight in the eyes. He smiled jubilantly. Haruhi's discomfort only grew the longer he held onto her. Her attempts at prying her arms away from him continuously failing to get him to let her go.

She felt a gentle hand on her back, and looked up to see Kyōya standing behind her, frowning deeply at the man.

"Is everything alright here?" Kyōya asked, taking in the scene before him. He moved closer to Haruhi, placing his arm around her waist, and gently urging her closer to him. The man stood up straighter at the sound of Kyōya's voice. Eying him, the man finally let go of Haruhi, who practically tried to mold herself into Kyōya's side. The man frowned at the sight of the couple.

He took a step back, still eying them. Turning to Haruhi, he bowed and smirked darkly.

"It was truly a pleasure meeting you, Fujioka Haruhi." Haruhi's eyes widened as she took in a sharp breath. He turned and began to walk away. Calling over his shoulder, he said "I cannot wait to meet with you again!" He seemed to vanish into the crown of people.

Kyōya placed a hand on Haruhi's shoulder, noting how she looked upset. "Haruhi? Are you ok?"

She shook her head, looking at Kyōya. Letting out a shaky breath she spoke. "I barely said two words to that man. And neither of those words were my name." Kyōya's brows furrowed as he looked around the room in an attempt to find catch another glimpse of the man, but he had no such luck.

Haruhi wrapped her arms around herself. It felt to her as if that strange man were still there, gripping her arms tightly and staring directly into her soul. She shuddered at the thought, causing Kyōya to turn his attention back to her.

"Perhaps it would be best if we headed out."

Haruhi nodded. "Please."

Hours later found Haruhi laying on her futon, going in and out of sleep. Kyōya had offered to stay the night with her, as she was still upset over the events of the evening. She shook her head, knowing they both had things to do in the morning. He didn't feel comfortable leaving her alone in her apartment.

As an eventual compromise, Kyōya offered to have one of his personal bodyguards keep an eye on her overnight. Had she not been as frightened as she was, she would have argued she didn't need, nor want, a bodyguard. With the thought of a potential threat against her from a crazed man she's never spoken to in her life, she agreed. The speed of her agreement was enough to let Kyōya know just how much that encounter bothered Haruhi.

It was almost three o'clock in the morning when Haruhi stopped tossing and turning and managed to fall into a deep sleep.

Haruhi recognized the room. It was Kyōya's room at the beach house where he'd tried to really drive home Tamaki's lesson.

The scenario was absolutely the same. She was prone on the bed. He was positioned above her, leaning over her. She was experiencing the entire conversation again. The twins fighting. The cost of the flowers. Her own naiveté.

The only difference was…

"You won't do it, Kyōya-sempai," she told him. "I know, because it wouldn't do you any good. You wouldn't gain anything from it."

…it wasn't Kyōya leaning over her on the bed. Instead of steely grey eyes, Haruhi was staring up into swirling hazel orbs. It was the man from the gala that was speaking to her.

He smirked down at her, leaning in further. Their faces are mere inches apart, and Haruhi could feel his breath on her face. "Oh my dear Haruhi. You cannot even begin to imagine just how much I have to gain from his." He ran a finger across her face. "From you." He pressed himself flush against her body, his legs tangled around her own, his arms holding hers above her head. Haruhi felt trapped. "I simply cannot wait to possess you, Haruhi."

He leaned against her completely, pressing his lips to her own. The grip he had on her arms tightened as he let out a quiet chuckle against her mouth.

Haruhi sat up, gasping. Her hands were shaking frantically, and her breath was coming out in pants. Wearily she rubbed at her eyes. Sitting up as she had left her slightly dizzy and the dream only served to remind her of the curious incident earlier. She tried to stand, but her legs didn't seem to want to cooperate with her.

Running a hand through her hair, she managed to calm her pounding heart enough to regulate her breathing. Finally, she stood and walked to the bathroom on shaky legs. She flipped on the light, taking in her appearance. A frightened looking girl met her gaze as she tried to wrap her mind around the bizarre dream.

Obviously, that strange man's behavior was affecting her more than she had originally thought. Perhaps she ought to have had Kyōya stay with her after all?

"I simply cannot wait to possess you, Haruhi."

Sliding to the floor, Haruhi let out a tiny whimper. She closed her eyes at the memory of her dream. There was no way she was getting back to sleep now.