A Challenge. Nothing more, Nothing Less

So, I've decided to create a new character. Yes, I know, the horrid OC. I'll try not to be outlandish with her. She's here to move the story along in a way I feel the other characters can't. She's been in my head a while and didn't know where to put her to good use, so here goes. I'm sorry she takes up most of this chapter. I have to establish her now so I can focus hardcore on the TamakixHaruhi relationship later. Don't kill me for it, okay? Review, don't flame. Love ya.

At The Beginning

Tamaki gazed across the Music room watching all of the host members. The twins were causing several girls to swoon with their antics while Hani devoured sweets as Mori watched on. Haruhi was talking animatedly to another young girl, and this was who his eyes dwelled on.

"Is something wrong, Daddy?" Kyoya still couldn't use the horrid nicknames in good fun. He rather resented them. Whether this was because he was Mommy or not, he couldn't decide.

"Haruhi's just getting along fine, isn't she?" Tamaki sighed.

"Oh?" Kyoya was rather confused by this statement. Tamaki was often lamenting about Haruhi's seemingly smooth transition into boyhood and the apparent lack of feminine charms, but he never seemed so…pensive. He was usually depressed or angry; definitely with more dramatics, tears and yelling at the very least.

"It's just…She's perfectly fine without us." Tamaki rested his chin on his hand while Kyoya watched, furrowing his brow.

He's so close to reaching the final conclusion and he has no idea.

The door opened a little more forcibly than usual and Tamaki glanced up, thinking it was the Lobelia girls again, but he only saw a tall girl scanning the room. Reaching the small table with Tamaki and Kyoya, she smiled. She turned to Mori, who was closest to her and asked if she could make a request.

He simply nodded.

Tamaki, expecting it to be him, began to stand up but the girl pointed to Haruhi and posed another question to Mori who nodded again.

Tamaki quickly sat down again.

Haruhi's previous guest was just standing to leave when the new girl strode over.

"Good bye Yui-san." The girl blushed and walked away, past the new girl. "Hello. You must be new here. My name's Haruhi." Haruhi waved her hand to indicate that she should take the seat opposite. She sat down quickly and leaned forward.

"So you're Haruhi?"

Across the room, two pairs of eyes watched the girls, one curious, and the other in disbelief.

"Yes I am. May I ask who you are?" Haruhi watched her face, trying to recognize her from around the school.

"I'm Ami Tachibana. Japanese, but it has a French equivalent. I just moved back here from France but back there it's hard enough getting them to say my last name right." She looked at Haruhi carefully, making her feel slightly uncomfortable. "I heard you were the easiest here to talk to." Haruhi looked surprised.

"Really? I just talk like usual."

"But you do have a certain charm about you that most people can't fake." She abruptly stood up. "I only wanted to get a glimpse of this place. I'll be back when you close."

Haruhi watched her leave, feeling slightly confused. The girl, Aimee, was forceful, but not rude. At least, that's how she seemed without asking if she was allowed to visit after hours.

Meanwhile, Tamaki and Kyoya had watched the whole exchange.

"Do you know who that was?" Tamaki looked at Kyoya whose face was its usual mask.

"She's a new student from France."

"Not another Renge?" Tamaki looked positively frightened.

"We'll have to see, but she didn't act as though one of our members was from some game, did she?"

"That is true…But why Haruhi? I mean, sure she's pretty, but why couldn't she talk to someone else!"

Kyoya didn't answer. It wouldn't be too much longer before he figured it out.

Before long, club was over. Tamaki was somewhat back to normal as he chased the twins away from Haruhi.

"But she's cute! Why shouldn't we hug her?" The twins jumped over the couch in their attempt to avoid the 'king'.

"Guys! I was trying to say that-" Before she could finish the warning, the girl in question slipped through the door.

"Hello Haruhi!" Ami seemed to have a bright personality and bounced through the door. "You really pull off being a boy well. Kyoya! It's been forever!" Before the club could get over the shock of this stranger knowing Haruhi's secret, she hugged Kyoya. What actually shocked them may have been him returning the hug, however reluctantly it was.

"You can never visit without causing a huge commotion, can you?" Kyoya looked his sternest, but Ami paid him no heed.

"So this is everybody, huh? Tamaki, the drama queen, the mischievous twins, silent Mori, sweet Hani and adorable Haruhi? It's an absolute pleasure to meet all of you!"

"Kyoya has a friend?" Kaoru stated in disbelief.

"A girl no less." Hikaru looked shocked. The two looked at each other before pointing at them together and chorused, "You're married, aren't you?"

"Of course not. I doubt either of us would have enough time to be married. And besides, we've known each other since we were five."

"Oh."

Tamaki looked shocked at this secret of Kyoya's. It was the supposed Renge engagement all over again. Today just wasn't his day at all.

Hardly anyone noticed Tamaki slink away except for Haruhi. She was surprised at Tamaki's reaction. Normally it was all waterworks and declarations of deceit. Looking around to make sure everyone was occupied; she followed him to the table he sat at.

"Are you okay Tamaki-sempai?" Tamaki looked at her dejectedly and she hesitantly put her hand on his shoulder. "I'm sure he didn't mean anything by not telling you. I think maybe he forgot." She highly doubted this, but she hoped it would make him feel better.

Tamaki raised his hand to put over hers, but thought better of it and let it settle back in his lap before putting on a smile.

"I'm all right Haruhi. I think I'm just tired today and I was kinda shocked." Haruhi nodded. "Besides, it's not like last time when Renge said they were engaged or anything."

Haruhi gave a small laugh, but continued watching Tamaki. Something was wrong and she had a strange suspicion that it wasn't totally linked to Kyoya.

"Tamaki-sempai, would you like to visit my house? My dad made a little extra last week and he said I could invite everyone over for dinner."

Just as she'd hoped, the suggestion lit the usual fervor in his eyes and he jumped up. The others, who had long since noticed the quiet conversation without hearing it, jumped when he shouted.

"What's going on?" Hani looked curiosly from Tamaki's excited face to Haruhi's amused one.

"I'm inviting everyone to dinner. I mean, you don't have to; I know it's small, but, you know…" Her voice trailed off.

"We'd love to go!" The twins pranced about joyously while the others nodded.

"I'll bring more cake! Yum!" Hani climbed up Mori's shoulders as he nodded again.

In their quiet corner, Ami looked like she was holding back from laughing while Kyoya's face looked exasperated. Ami elbowed him in the ribs.

"Lighten up a bit." They watched everyone running around for a second more before Ami spoke again, "I see what you mean. He still hasn't realized it?"

"Of course not. He's as thick headed as they come. It'll take a miracle to get him to understand."

"Or a clever plan."

"You're going to meddle, aren't you?"

"I notice you don't sound like you're going to stop me."

"Trying to stop you would be like trying to stop a train."

"Very true. Well, I've got some time off from dancing, so I've got nothing to do. Let's see if I can whip up some fun here."

"Try to be somewhat courteous."

"I'll do my best." She laughed as the twins and Tamaki attempted a tug of war with Haruhi in the middle.

See? I told you! She has a purpose! Now all she's really going to do in the story is set up situations and let us see in Kyoya's head a bit without keeping to 4000 thought bubbles.