^-^ Author's Note: Not only is this my first Ouran Fic, I have the privilege of writing it with Serina Bardon. ^-^

Prologue:

Kyoya's hand tightened around the chain he kept hidden around his neck. He didn't wear it very often, but when he did it was because it reminded him of a simpler time, a time of happiness and friendship, something that he didn't have a lot of these days. Well with the exception of a certain blonde-haired idiot, who was slowly working his way into Kyoya's affections. Tamaki Suoh was many things, brash, impulsive, and yes in many ways an idiot, but he was also one of the kindest young men that Kyoya had ever met.

"Kyoya, what's going on with you today? You've been silent even for you." The idiot could be observant when he wanted to be, Kyoya thought.

"Kyoya, are you okay? Do you want me to leave? We can discuss the club later if you want."

Kyoya straightened his glasses as he stated, "I'm fine Tamaki, you were mentioning Morinozuka and Haninozuka as well as the Hitachiin twins as possible candidates for hosts and from what I've managed to discover, they should fit in quite well. The only thing we will need to do is find a reasonable way to finance the initial setup costs."

"Well, I have that planned out already. I'll finance the initial setup fees, after all I am the King of our little club and then we can charge as we see fit. The first visit will be free and after that we'll have a specific amount that each host can earn."

"Hmm, twenty percent of the profits goes back to the club then I take it. But are you sure you want a free admission on the first visit." Kyoya was writing down the information as Tamaki relayed it to him. He wasn't comfortable with the free visit however.

"We want them to come back don't we? The first visit is free, after that if they want to designate a host they have to pay a fee. That sounds fair doesn't it?" The blonde idiot knew nothing about financing, that much was a given.

"Hmm, what about we just charge a first time fee of 500 yen. After that if they want to designate a host we can charge according to the event and the host or hosts. I imagine the twins will be one act, Mori and Honey-senpai's can be either together or separate depending on their other activities and then you and I will be separate as well. We cannot afford to not have a fee, Tamaki, there's no merit or profit in it and we stand a good chance of losing money if we don't."

"Are you sure we have to charge them anything?"

"Do you trust my financial advice or not?" Kyoya glared at him through his glasses and Tamaki nodded slowly. "Then we do this my way or not at all. If the club does okay, then we can discuss fees for each host."

"Okay. Are you sure you're okay Kyoya?"

Kyoya traced the hidden chain and smiled a sad, almost lonely smile, "I'll be fine."

After Tamaki left, Kyoya took out the chain and traced a finger along its length. He wondered briefly what the presenter of the charm hanging off the chain would think of him now. He was still the third son of the Otori group. He was still trying to be better than his brothers. He still wanted to prove to his father that he was not just a third son, he was a man on a mission.

"What am I going to do? I'm going to prove that I can surpass every one of them. No matter what the cost to me in the long run."

As he mused about his current situation, he remembered her. The one with dark brown hair, and soft, soulful, dark brown eyes.

A soft childish voice raced through his mind, "Catch me if you can Kyo!"

Laughter, songs, fun-filled days. Those were all long behind him. And yet, "Wait for me Haru!"

The past still sang to him, it's bittersweet song reminded him of brighter days, and a sweet childhood friend. One who had disappeared from his life shortly before his sixth birthday. All he had left of her was a small charm in the shape of a crown. The stones were smokey quartz, and he remembered asking her about it on the day she'd given it to him.

"You have shadows in your eyes, like you hide pain or tears. You're my Shadow King, Kyoya."

"You're my Princess of Light then," he'd stated and she'd smiled at him for accepting not only her gift but her nickname for him. He'd asked her why she'd given him the gift early and she smiled again, but this time her eyes had shadows in them and he knew that something was wrong.

"I'm not sure when I can come back, mommy's sick again. It might be a long time before I can play again. I...I'm sorry," she started crying and he knew from past conversations that she was scared for her mother's health.

He gave her an awkward hug as he said, "I'm sorry about your mother. I hope she gets better soon."

"Master Kyoya! It's time to go sir! We have to get back before your parents know we've gone."

"Thank you Tachibana. Will you be okay, Haru? Do you need a ride home?"

"Master Kyoya! Please sir!"

Even then he'd had a stare that could quail most of his servants, Tachibana gulped as he pleaded one more time for his young master to get into the limousine.

"I'll be fine, Kyoya. Happy Birthday, early. I hope it's a great one." She ran off towards the other end of the park and Kyoya slowly got into the limousine. He ran a finger over the small charm and Tachibana asked him if he'd like him to find a chain to put it on.

"Yes please Tachibana, something simple yet sturdy if you please. I don't want to lose it."