I don't own Ouran.

"Kuso!"

Fujioka Haruhi heard the oath muttered from behind her. "Ohayo to you too." She replied cheerfully.

"Why do mornings have to be so early?" Mei groaned as she dropped in a seat at the counter.

"Why do your nights have to be so late?" Haruhi countered as she poured her roommate a cup of coffee. She slid the aromatic blend under Mei's nose to help her wake up. "And why are you up before noon anyway?"

"It's the last week. I have just a few days left to make the finishing touches on my line." Mei mumbled almost incoherently as she began to sip her drink. After a few minutes of silence the caffeine was beginning to take its effect. "You look nice." She said eyebrow raised as she eyed Haruhi over her cup.

"Don't hold back your surprise." Haruhi muttered.

"No, seriously. Where are you going? Oh, do you have a lunch date or something? Is it that cute lawyer guy you were talking to at that party?" Mei asked perking up immediately.

"No. I have my first day assisting the Ootori group on some new project."

"What??" Mei was fully awake now.

"I think it will only be for today. I'm just filling in because Takahasi-san is out with-"

"You have to change." Mei said getting to her feet.

"What?"

"Come on. I have to find you something to wear."

"You just said I looked nice."

"That was before I knew where you were going."

"Mei-chan, it's fine. This is my nicest suit."

"I won't begin to tell you how disappointed I am by that news. But, this is not some save Mt. Fuji, granola eating, my cause is more important than my appearance kind of company, Haruhi. This is the Ootori Group. You HAVE to look your best."

"I do look my best."

"Well, your best is not good enough."

"Mei!" Haruhi screamed as her roommate dragged her away from the kitchen.

Fujioka Haruhi ran, as best she could in three-inch heels, to the building entrance. The Ootori Group's head office was as large and imposing as she expected it to be. As soon as she stepped through the walls all the warmth from the sun seemed to drain from her. The lobby looked like the cross between the sterility of a hospital, which Haruhi supposed made sense, and the magnificence of an expensive hotel, which she supposed also made sense. She crossed the lobby to the receptionist.

"Ohayo goziamasu, may I help you?" The pretty girl behind the desk asked.

"Um, yes I'm Fujioka Haruhi, I'm just not sure where to go." She laughed nervously.

The receptionist didn't laugh. Haruhi stood as the girl typed away on the computer screen as if she was writing a novel.

"Fujioka?"

"Hai."

Type, type, type. Type, type, type.

"Haruhi?"

"Hai." Haruhi said forcing a smile.

Type, type, type. Type, type, type.

"Oh, yes." She said as if Haruhi had just spilled red wine on her silk blouse. "It is 8:03. You were supposed to meet with Ootori-sama at 8am?"

"Hai." Perhaps, if you hadn't wasted five minutes of my time I wouldn't be three minutes late, Haruhi thought. She could tell that those three minutes would affect Ootori-sama's opinion of her. She really had planned on being fifteen minutes early but Mei's makeover had completely disrupted her careful allotment of time. She would've abandoned Mei but with her outfit discarded and her face half painted in makeup she had no choice. She also had to fight Mei all the way who seemed to forget that she was a lawyer and not a model dressing up as a lawyer.

The receptionist called for an escort and a man dressed in a black suit and black sunglasses appeared before Haruhi. She was not certain where he came from for it was as if he appeared out of thin air.

"Please follow me Fujioka-san." Without awaiting her reply, he turned around and began walking to the elevator.

Great, Haruhi thought as she followed the black clad man. Now, Ootori-sama was going to start with a poor impression of her. As much as she did not desire to work for the capitalist company she knew their influence was too far reaching for her to risk their disapproval. She should never have let Mei talk her into all of this nonsense. All it did was throw her schedule off and make her late—for her first day. She was certain that the old widower Ootori-sama could care less what she looked like. And, what did it matter since this was only supposed to be for the one day until Takahasi-san returned.

They arrived at the executive offices and Haruhi was led down the grand hall. Finally, turning down another hallway they reached a large set of oak doors. Haruhi, took a deep breath as she stood before the double doors. She had only met Ootori-sama at Tamaki's and Kyouya's graduation parties from Ouran. They did not have much conversation, and actually he seemed pretty uninterested in her.

The black-clad man knocked briefly before throwing open the double doors. Obviously, he was knocking as a courtesy and Ootori-sama was expecting her. Well of course he is expecting you, she scolded herself.

She stepped through the doors to see several people gathered around the large mahogany desk.

"Ootori-sama, Fujioka-san from Ishikawa Law Partners is here."

Haruhi bowed respectably. "I apologize for my tardiness Ootori-sama." She said her body still bowed before him. She began to raise her body when her eyes finally fell on Ootori-sama.

"K-Kyouya-senpai!" She said jerking to a standing position.

"Haruhi?!!" Ootori Kyouya sprang to his feet stunned as he looked at his former kohai. His typically unemotional mask slipped and he stared at Haruhi in wonder. He had not seen the younger woman in years. Kyouya had expected Haruhi to run to greet him excitedly as she normally did. But, the young lawyer stood rooted in her position, her eyes cold. Her wide-eyed expression of surprise and delight at seeing an old acquaintance again had immediately disappeared and Kyouya felt…annoyed. Was Haruhi disappointed in seeing him again? More than that she looked displeased. When, he saw her expression of discontent Kyouya's instincts kicked in. Annoyed at his imprudent response, he once again slipped behind his stoic mask and his reputation as a tyrant.

"I demand punctuality Fujioka-san. It is now 8:06 and my time is valuable." Kyouya said as he pushed his glasses up with his index finger.

Hello Haruhi how are you?

Oh, I am fine Kyouya-senpai how are you?

I am fine. It is so good to see you after so long Haruhi.

You as well senpai.

No, Haruhi received none of those things. Instead she received Kyouya's legendary icy glare. Haruhi gritted her teeth and smiled realizing that she would be making that expression quite often today. "Please, accept my humblest apologies." She said bowing again.

"Well, we shall have to decide how this debt is to be repaid." He said retaking his seat and returning his eyes to the papers before him. "You are all dismissed."

Everyone immediately began making their way out of the room. No one wanted to be around Ootori Kyouya when he was in a bad mood. And, a person devaluing his time—for that's what he considered tardiness—was a catalyst for a bad mood.

Haruhi stood still for a few moments not knowing what to do. Well, since Kyouya had dismissed everyone she supposed she was included. Perhaps, his secretary would be the one directing her as to what her assignment would be today.

"Not you Fujioka-san." Kyouya said without looking up at her.

Haruhi stood facing the door as it began to close. The woman before her gave her a sympathetic look before quickly closing the door. Haruhi turned around and made her way back toward her bespectacled former senpai.

Kyouya still did not look up from his work and Haruhi stood trying do decide if she should take a seat or keep standing. Since he made no attempts to offer her a seat she settled for the latter. Her eyes surreptitiously observed her former senpai.

Ootori Kyouya was impeccably dressed as always. He wore a dark gray suit and a shirt and tie that looked as though they had been lined with a ruler. His glasses sat low on his nose. He stared at his work with such intensity that Haruhi wondered what this important undisclosed project was. Finally, and partly due to her three inch heels, she let out a sigh.

"Is my disregard bothering you Fujioka-san?" Kyouya asked, his raised eyebrow threatening her to actually reply. "Perhaps, now you know how it feels to have your time wasted."

Haruhi choose to remain silent. It is only for one day. It is only for one day. Closing her eyes, she repeated that mantra in her head. She was so focused on her mantra that she did not notice Kyouya rise and move to her.

"Oh," She said stepping back as she opened her eyes to find Kyoya standing before her.

"Am I to be subjected to your daydreaming as well Fujioka-san? Is this normally how you behave when you are working?" He asked.

"With, respect Kyouya-senp—um Ootori-sama—but you have not given me any work to do." She said smiling.

"I had work ready for you at 8 am, work that I had to reassign due to your tardiness." Kyouya began before reaching to his desk and grabbing a stack of papers. "These are drafts of letters for the various commissions regarding the new project on which I am working. Why don't you peruse these documents to make certain there are no mistakes."

Haruhi noted his tone. Ootori Kyouya make a mistake? The very idea was laughable, ridiculous, impossible and it was obvious that Ootori Kyouya more that anyone believed that. Haruhi was getting annoyed by this point. This is not what she went to school for seven years to do. "Um…"

"Hai."

"Isn't this something your secretary should be doing?"

"My secretary is currently occupied with another project. Since I have already begun your work and I detest changing focus in the middle of a project I had to find something else to occupy your time. Do you plan on continuing to waste my time with these inane questions or do you plan to begin working? It is now 8:11." Kyouya answered.

Haruhi's hands were shaking. She was no longer annoyed. She was pissed. Was he going to harp on the fact that she was six minutes late for the rest of her life. She silently took the papers from the stoic Ootori before her and made her way to the sofa.

Ootori Kyouya's eyes were glued to the pages before him. It would've taken him much less time to finish his work if he were able to maintain his focus. He had never had trouble focusing before, even with the Host Club's raucousness going on around him, so why now. His eyes rose imperceptibly to observe his lawyer for today, Fujioka Haruhi. She wore a stylishly fitted gray suit with a skirt that was quite possibly too short. It accentuated her legs, which were crossed and had that tantalizingly perfect curve due to her heels. Haruhi certainly had grown up. Well that is a brilliant assessment Kyouya scolded himself. He had not seen Haruhi at all in almost five years and had not had much contact with her for the four years prior. Though, they both went to Ouran University their scholarly pursuits placed them in different departments. Their connection essentially ended after his departure from the Host Club, though he did see her occasionally through Tamaki. Kyouya frowned as Haruhi's eyes rose and accidentally met with his. He immediately returned his gaze to his work.

Haruhi cautiously looked up to regard her former senpai. She had thought that he was looking at her but he was so focused in his work that she must have been imagining it. Kyouya seemed so engrossed in his work that Haruhi wondered what on earth was the project that was demanding so much of his attention. It must involve a lot of money, Haruhi thought wryly. After all, she knew Kyouya would not expend energy or mental power on anything that did not have any merits. She wanted to ask him out of sheer curiosity and a desire to break the silence. But, she remembered Kyouya liked working in silence. Then again so did she. It was not the silence that was bothering her but Haruhi did not know what was. Perhaps it was not the silence as much as it was his silence. Of course all she had gotten from Kyouya for these past years was silence. Why should now be any different? They were only forced to work together all day. There was no reason they had to be friends. She sighed and continued to peruse the documents until her eyes stumbled upon the secret of the secret project.

An Onsen? That's what this was all about? Ootori Kyouya was building an Onsen?!! The way he behaved one would think that he had discovered the cure for cancer, Haruhi fumed. She was annoyed that she was pulled from the Mt. Fuji project, an initiative that would actually positively affect the community, to work on nothing more important than the Ootori Group's new hotel. Grumbling internally, Haruhi returned to her word deciding that she did not want to break the silence after all. And she didn't want to be friends. It only took a few minutes later for her to be forced to break her word.

"Um, Kyouya-senpai?" Haruhi began.

"Hai." Kyouya suddenly looked up from his work. His eyes were tired and his body looked worn. He looked like he not been getting much sleep lately.

Haruhi almost felt sorry for him until she remembered that he was the warden of the suffocating prison she had been in all day. And, for a freaking Onsen! And he didn't care about her so why should she care about him.

"I think I found something." Haruhi said.

"What do you mean you 'think you found something'?" His expression turned cold and skeptical.

Obviously Kyouya had given her what he had considered a waste of her time. He was probably just surprised that anyone would find anything wrong with his work. Kyouya was so meticulous that everything he did was usually unassailable. Haruhi had to physically will her eyes not to roll at his arrogance. She rose and crossed the room toward his desk.

"Um, it's just that you talk about the hot springs in Kinosaki which is in the Hyogo Prefecture in the Kansai-"

"I know where it is."

"Well, all the information here seems to talk about Okinawa."

"What?" Kyouya said tight lipped.

Haruhi walked closer to him, too self-satisfied to prevent the sway of her hips due to her heels. She placed the document before him. Kyouya's eyes began perusing it immediately. She leaned over to point out the error and make it easier for him.

"I see it." He said before she had a chance to extend her hand fully.

She withdrew her hand and stood patiently hoping that she did not have too smug a look on her face. She supposed it would not do for him to know that she took a perverse delight in illuminating his imperfection. Ootori Kyouya imperfect, never!

Kyouya just mumbled something about fixing it and Haruhi made her way back to her seat. It was the last time he spoke to her.

Their entire day was spent in silence. Haruhi did not even take a break for lunch, as Kyouya did not. She knew if she dared try she would just be reminded of her debt. He certainly liked to have the upper hand in a situation, she thought bitterly. For some people it would be refreshing to see that their character was constant but with Kyouya it was a little… frightening.

Haruhi was surprised, when she arrived home, to find a message from her firm stating that she was to return to the Ootori Group the next day as per their request. She silently cursed her luck. Why on earth would Kyouya ask her to come back? He seemed so displeased to have her there in the first place. She thought he would be just as relieved to have their day and their connection over as she was. And when exactly did Kyouya have the opportunity to call her firm to 'request her presence' in the first place? She did not remember him making any calls. But, Kyouya always had a strange way of getting what he wanted accomplished. Whether it was influencing Tamaki to choose a particular theme for the Host Club—in true Shadow King form—or running the Ootori Group—which it appeared he was just a footstep away from doing—Ootori Kyouya got what he wanted. What Haruhi couldn't understand was why he wanted her?

The next day Haruhi arrived ten minutes early. She did not allow Mei to change her outfit and do all the torturous cosmetic applications that she had planned, not matter what the designer speculated about Kyouya's reasons for requesting her return. She was not going to get a promotion or be hired by the Ootori Group for finding one mistake. Haruhi determined that would be on time and she would be comfortable. And, she did not want to impress Kyouya so all of Mei's prodding did nothing to convince her to put in the extra effort. She wore a white ruffled top with a knee-length pencil skirt, as living with a fashion designer had made even Fujioka Haruhi more inclined to be fashionable. It was only that her outfit was more simple. And she did not wear makeup like she normally didn't, just a touch of gloss and mascara. She did not look bad, she just reverted to her usual representation. As, a result her hair was pulled back in its customary bun. Haruhi liked her bun. She already was so small and delicate looking she found that people, men especially, didn't always take her seriously. Her bun gave her that no nonsense kind of look. She was not one of those females who used her wiles and sex appeal to get her way. She probably wouldn't know what to do even if she wanted to.

When Haruhi arrived at the Oorori Group, Kyouya was already there. She suspected as much so she was not surprised. He did not mention anything about her punctuality because that might be construed as a compliment and Haruhi knew that Kyouya didn't give compliments. The only thing that Haruhi noticed was that Kyouya took a few moments to observe her. His eyes roved her body from her bun to her more sensible shoes before returning to the papers before him. Without any politeness of greeting he handed over the documents what he needed her to proof for that day. Haruhi silently fumed. She took the work and headed over to the sofa to begin her tedious task.

Their second day was passing much like the first though with even less conversation. Haruhi had brought a bento with her. When she had arrived home the day before she was close to passing out from starvation. That was not going to happen to her again. Ootori Kyoya may be able to survive solely on ambition and indifference but Fujioka Haruhi needed nutritional sustenance. She noticed Kyouya's eyes flicker to her as she opened her bento. As much as she did not wish to converse or be in the same room with her former senpai Haruhi did not have it in her to be rude.

"Um, Kyouya-senpai did you bring your lunch?"

"I do not have lunch." He answered, not taking his eyes from his work.

"Well, I am sure I have enough if you wish to share mine." She offered.

Kyouya sighed, not deigning to look at her. "When I said I do not have lunch I meant I do not eat lunch. If the desire does strike me I shall have no need to pilfer your commoner food."

"That's it!" Haruhi had expected Kyouya to refuse her if only out of not showing weakness. But, something about the way he choose to refuse her set her blood to boil. He was the most arrogant, egotistical, condescending man she had ever known. "You know what Kyouya-senpai, I am tired and hungry and my head hurts from reading these documents all morning and the last thing I need right now is your insults and your disapproval."

"My disapproval?" Kyouya said finally raising his eyes to regard her. "All you have done since you've gotten here is show me how displeased you are to be working for me."

"Well, excuse me for not being thrilled to be your personal proofreader." Haruhi said rising to her feet.

"What exactly is that supposed to mean?"

Haruhi began to walk toward his desk. "It means that I did not go to school for seven years to become a secretary. You are insulting my intelligence and all the hard work I had to do to get to where I am by giving me such menial tasks. I became a lawyer to help people and change the world for the better not to make some already wealthy company even wealthier. And, I may be a commoner but that does not make you better than me. I don't know what I ever did to you to warrant such disregard from you but just because you grew up privileged that does not give you the right to look at me with such disdain. Do you know how hard I worked to get here? I had to be perfect just to get into Ouran in the first place. But, you are an Ootori, you wouldn't understand what it is like to-"

"How hard you worked?" Kyouya roared as he rose to his feet, his aura almost visible in the room. He leaned forward placing his hands on his desk. "Do you have any idea how hard I have worked, Haruhi? I may be an Ootori but I am the third Ootori. You were allowed to aspire for more and work to achieve it. My entire life I have been taught that no matter what I did or how hard I tried I would never attain my goal of succeeding the Ootori group. You talk about being perfect then you were lucky. My brothers were already perfect. If I wanted my father's consideration, being perfect was not good enough. I had to be more than perfect. Do you know what it is to know that you have to be more than perfect, Haruhi? There isn't even a word for that."

Not intimidated by the ominous aura circling the angry Ootori, Haruhi stepped forward leaning over his desk toward him as he did to her. "But, you are accomplishing your goal, aren't you? Just like I knew you would. Everyone could see how exceptional you were even in school. You are one of the most brilliant people I've ever known. And what are you doing with all of your extraordinary abilities, Kyouya-senpai? Instead of doing something that could actually be a benefit or help people you are building another resort for the Aristocracy to gather and exclude themselves from us pathetic commoners. Well, congratulations! You should be very proud." She yelled.

Kyouya's expression changed and for a fleeting moment he looked as if Haruhi had just stabbed him with a hot poker. His expression soon darkened and his voice was low and detached when he spoke.

"It has been years since our acquaintance Fujioka-san. Perhaps we should concede that we do not know each other as we think we do." He pushed his glasses up the bridge of his nose and retook his seat.

Haruhi stood stunned then silently made her way back to the sofa. She didn't understand why she had gotten so angry. Had Kyouya really done anything that she did not expect him to? No. He rejected her commoner food. Did that warrant an outburst like she had? She was certain it did not. But, Haruhi could not understand why the stoic aristocrat's disregard infuriated her the way it did. It was Kyouya. It was what he always did. His condescending voice and look of disinterest were things she was accustomed to by now. What Haruhi was not accustomed to was that offended or possibly hurt look Kyouya had shown for just a moment. It was so quick that Haruhi wasn't sure if she had read it correctly. It took nothing more than his shadowed expression that followed to convince her that it was true. But, what on earth could she have said to hurt Kyouya's feelings. She wasn't entirely convinced that Kyouya actually had feelings. Besides, everything she had said was true wasn't it? Kyouya never had any problems using whatever means necessary for capital gain and he was unapologetic about it. She was certain that her comments could not have offended him. But, if not that then what? Haruhi sat down and put away her bento. She no longer had any appetite.

"She is the most frustrating, infuriating, self-righteous woman I have ever known." Kyouya argued.

"Who?" Shigo Fayumi asked, as put on her shoes.

"Haruhi! I mean, Fujioka-san." Kyouya said.

"But, I thought you were friends."

"Well, apparently not." Kyouya said crossing his arms over his chest. "Are you ready? I would really like to get this over with. You know how I hate making these public appearances."

"You are representing the Ootori Group. You have to attend."

"I know." Kyouya sighed leaning against the wall. "I just think it is a waste of my time. I have so much work to do."

"It is alright to take a break every now and then." Fayumi said before turning to face her younger brother. "And though I appreciate the opportunity to wear a pretty dress and go to a party, if you keep going to these events with your sister people may begin to talk. It is alright for you to take someone else, you know."

"What do you mean someone else?"

"I mean a woman Kyouya."

"I have no time for women." Kyouya answered disinterestedly. "I thought you would be eager to go to this kind of nonsense."

"I am." Fayumi answered. "And, socializing with your peers is not nonsense. It is a perfectly healthy and acceptable use of one's time. I am only saying that perhaps you should try to take a break now and then and spend some of that time with some nice girls of our acquaintance."

"I am not acquainted with any nice girls." Kyouya said quickly.

"Kyouya!"

"Fayumi-nee-san. I have no desire to spend my evening trying to entertain some insipid heiress."

"When have you been ever known to entertain anyone Kyouya-kun?"

Kyouya almost cracked a smile at his sister's jab.

"More importantly when was the last time you went on a date?" Fayumi continued pressing him.

"I go on dates." Kyouya muttered pushing his glasses up the bridge of his nose.

"When?"

"I went on a date… last month."

"Taking out the daughter of the owner of a company you are trying to do business with is not the same as a date. A date is where you spend time with someone simply because you enjoy their company…not their father's." Fayumi quipped.

"Are you ready?" Kyouya asked again. So he didn't go on dates. What was the big deal? He didn't have time for dates, or women, or all the headache those two entailed. He was close, but he had not technically accomplished his goal of succeeding the Ootori Group. This resort that he was working on was going to be the final stone in what he had been building. It would show his father that not only could he handle the Ootori Group's original Hospital related ventures but he also had to foresight to take them to the future.

"Just clasp my necklace for me and I will be ready to go." Fayumi said.

Kyouya crossed the room and stood behind his sister. As he clasped the necklace around her neck Fayumi captured his hand in hers.

"I just want you to be happy Kyou-kun." Fayumi began. She looked at him through the reflection of the mirror. "I know why this resort is so very important to you. I know why you work so hard on it. But, I just don't want you to be so absorbed in work that you forget to live. She wouldn't want that." She turned around to meet his eyes as she said the last sentence.

Kyouya didn't respond but to tell his sister that he would wait for her downstairs.

Haruhi was running through her apartment trying to get dressed. Tonight was the debut of Mei's fashion line. Mei had prepared an outfit for her from the Mei Oui original dress, to the shoes and accessories. Sometimes, it didn't suck to live with a fashion designer, Haruhi supposed. The dress had a halter back top that resembled a tuxedo shirt. It even had a black bow tie at the neck. The skirt however was made of large, puffy layers of silver chiffon. The two contrasting pieces were pulled together with a black cummerbund style belt with a swarovski crystal buckle. It was a piece that didn't make it into the runway show because there were already enough dresses. Mei thought that Haruhi wearing it was her secret way of still getting it shown.

Haruhi admired herself in the mirror. No, living with a fashion designer didn't suck, she decided.

The sound of the buzzer alerted her that her taxi was here and Haruhi made her way downstairs. She arrived at the venue for the House of Hitachiin fashion shows. Mei's label was under her mentor, Hitachiin Yazuha's, fashion house. Haruhi looked around nervously at all the high profile attendees and celebrities.

"Konbanwa, may I help you." The elegant man stood before her, clipboard in hand.

"Hai, Fujioka Haruhi."

He perused his list for her name and his eyebrow raised, indicating he had found it. "This way please."

Haruhi followed her escort up the aisle, and further up the aisle, and even further up the aisle until they reached the front row.

"Um, excuse me?" She called uncertainly. He obviously forgot that she was following him or he had indicated where her seat was and she had missed it. "Where am I sitting?"

"You are seated here with the other VIP's Fujioka-sama."

"Um, really." Haruhi tried to maintain a cool expression. She shouldn't feel so elated; after all she had spent enough time with her Host Club to receive the royal treatment before. But with all eyes upon her as she had walked down the aisle to the exclusive section she began to feel elated by the experience. Oh, it really didn't suck to be roomies with the designer. This might actually be fun, she thought.

"Ootori-sama," her escort began looking behind her. "Please excuse the wait your seats are ready."

Haruhi turned around to find herself face to face with Ootori Kyouya and his dispassionate glare. She wasn't certain if he was displeased in being here or in seeing her. She had a feeling it was both and that feeling was certainly mutual. He sighed as he realized they would be sitting beside each other. Haruhi just dropped her head in despair.

This sucks!

Hope you like so far. Just started toying with this cuz I really love Kyouya now. Let me know what you think and if anyone wants me to continue writing. Please review.