Disclaimer:I do not own Prince of Tennis or Ouran High School Host Club and am no way affiliated with anything remotely connected!

Chapter 2: Investigation: Who Is The Boy At Lunch And How Does He Know Haruhi?

-Later that day at the Host Club, after the pretend fight of the twins…-

"Kyoya-senpai, that boy at lunch, who was he?" asked Hikaru and Kaoru at exactly the same time.

"You mean the one who bashed your heads together?" smirked the second year.

"Who else?" asked Hikaru bitter.

"Ah, that's right!" exclaimed Tamaki. "I haven't seen him before. Who is he?"

"You really are an idiot." Sighed Kyoya.

"Hey, you don't have to be so mean! What's with you all of a sudden?" whined Tamaki.

"Baka. His name is Echizen Ryoma and he transferred into our class this year. "

"Eeeeeeh!" exclaimed the blond shocked. "Really?"

"Of course, he came from a commoner school. His mother is only third in line as heir of the Takeuchi Family. He sleeps through most classes."

"How come I never noticed?" whined Tamaki dramatically.

"Well, if you would stop focusing on the female half of the class and stop fantasizing sappy scenarios about certain club members, you might have noticed."

"That's good advice." Commented a pissed of Haruhi.

Tamaki went to sulk in his corner. He immediately started to grow mushrooms.

"How come Your teachers let him sleep in class?" asked Hikaru.

"Yeah, they always wake us up." Continued Kaoru.

"They have given up."

Kyoya readjusted his glasses. They shone briefly in the light and he smiled.

"I believe they don't want to be embarrassed more than they already are."

"I found Ryo-chan very cool at lunch! Ne, Takashi?" smiled Honey.

"Aa."

"Honey-senpai, I don't think Ryoma-senpai will like it if you call him that. "

"Eeh? You know him, Haru-chan?"

She nodded. "Yes, we met during the holidays. He's nice. We live in the same neighborhood, so we come to school together. "

"Does that mean he knows you're a girl?" asked Kyoya quickly typing on his laptop.

'he's probably digging through Ryoma's file' thought Haruhi.

Tamaki, Hikaru and Kaoru suddenly surrounded her, anxious for her answer.

"Of course!"

"WHAT?"

After that, there was chaos. The twins ran around the room, screaming all sorts of things. Tamaki grabbed Haruhi by her shoulders and shook her violently. He too, was yelling at the top of his lungs, but Haruhi was too focused on keeping her lunch inside to bother. Honey, however, was bouncing.

"Haru-chan, can you introduce him to us?"

"I don't know…"

She had grabbed Tamaki by his ear. He was crying on his knees now and she still hadn't let go.

"Why not?"

"He knows enough about you to never want to meet any off you." Stated Haruhi bluntly.

The change in atmosphere was instant. Tamaki was brooding in his corner again., the twins tripped and fell on their faces, Honey started crying and Mori was trying to console him. Kyoya's glasses glinted in the light.

"So he thinks himself above us. I wonder why?"

"He doesn't. he just knows you're too crazy to be around." Replied Haruhi.

"Does that mean you don't know everything about him, Kyoya. That is quite unusual." Said the twins, completely ignoring Haruhi. She twitched.

"Kaa-san!" whined Tamaki again. "How come you don't have any information on this guy?"

"I have his basic information, as well as the results of his physical examination. He's just not interesting enough to put more effort in gathering the information."

"So, he's boring." Shrugged Hikaru.

"He's not actually. And anyway, since the club is closed, I'll be going now."

"where are you going? Can we come?" asked Tamaki excited.

"I'm going home, I don't want to miss the train. And NO you can't come!"

"Are you trying to tell us what to do? You, the special-student-who-owns-us-money?"

Haruhi twitched. Did Kyoya really have to call her that? Damn rich kids, damn shadow king.

"Whatever." Muttered the girl.

She grabbed her stuff and walked out. She was perfectly aware that the hosts were following her. A little part of her wondered why they followed her on foot, instead of in a limo.

But she was more irritated by their poor attempt at stalking. They were much too obvious! Six guys huddled together behind one mail box, honestly!

Once she got to the station, she noticed Ryoma. He was glaring at his cellphone.

She approached him cautiously.

"Senpai, are you all right?"

"No, I'm having a very bad day!"

"How come?"

"First I overslept, meaning I had to hurry this morning. So I forgot my bento. Then, well you know what happened at lunch. And now, senpai-tachi don't have time to treat me to burgers and … I'm still hungry!" snarled the golden-eyed teen.

Ryoma took a deep, breath and sighed.

"Gomen, for yelling at you Haruhi"

"Don't worry about it. I know it's not personal."

Both got on the arriving train and Ryoma started twitching.

"You were followed."

"I know."

Both stared at Tamaki who was making a scene because the twins sat close to Haruhi then him.

"Baka."

Both sighed at the same time.

"Ah, I almost forgot. Your father called about that three-day-trip he's going to. He and my mom arranged everything. Seems you'll be staying at our place for the weekend." Said Ryoma in an even voice.

She sighed.

"Thanks, but I still hope I can convince him to let me stay at home. It's nothing personal, but I can look after myself."

"I know and good luck with that."

"Yeah. Well, this is my stop. See you tomorrow, Ryoma-senpai."

"Ya ne."

-The next day-

"Ne, Haruhi, what's with the bag?" asked Hikaru the next morning.

"You don't know?" asked the girl stoic.

"Why should we know? You never tell us anything." Pouted Kaoru.

"I don't know. But it might have something to do with yesterday though. You all did stalk me on my way home. For all I know, you were even listening at my door."

The twins flushed.

"And don't try to deny it. I saw you!"

"Ma, ma, we promise not to do that anymore. So please tell us." Pleaded Kaoru.

"No way, and please be quiet class has already started."

Bothe boys immediately started to pout, but Haruhi ignored them.

-During club hours-

"Let me guess…" sighed Haruhi. "You all want to know why I carry this bag around."

"Yes! Tell tou-san everything!" yelled Tamaki cheerfully.

"No."

"Eeeeh!"

"If you hadn't followed me home yesterday like a bunch of toddlers who didn't get what they wanted, I might have told you. Now, you'll never know."

'Maybe, I'm spending too much time with Ryoma-senpai. He loves to play with people like this.

Tamaki however began panicking, inventing all sorts off exaggerating scenario's.

"Don't tell me, she couldn't stand to live her commoner life after seeing our beautiful lives and ran away from home! And Haruhi's too shy to ask me, her tou-san, if I would take her in!"

He quickly ran towards the girl and glomped her.

"Don't worry Haruhi! Tou-san will take care of you. You'll never have to return to being pour!"

"Senpai? Let go off me!"

He was slowly suffocating her.

"Haruhi, are you all right?"

Everyone turned around to see…

"Ryoma-senpai?"

And indeed, in the doorway stood Echizen Ryoma. With a calm face, he took in the drama in the room. He still had the door handle in his hand, ready to shut said door and run if necessary.

"Go away, Haruhi-stealer!" screamed Tamaki.

"What? Haruhi-stealer?" Ryoma sighed. "I knew I never should have come in here."

He was conflicted. Could he close the door and pretend this never happened? It would be easy, but could he leave Haruhi in this madness? He was surprised the girl still had some common sense. Currently she was being suffocated by Tamaki Suou, who gripped the girl like his life depended on it. And in his dramatic version of life, it just might. The twins were eyeing him wearily. Kyoya, Mori and Honey on the other hand, looked on in amusement.

"Welcome to the Host Club, Echizen Ryoma." Greeted Kyoya.

"Thanks, but don't bother, I'm not staying." Replied Ryoma bluntly.

"Why, don't you like us, Ryo-chan? "asked Honey, his eyes full off tears.

"You don't have any right to call me that." Snapped Ryoma.

He completely ignored the question.

Honey pouted. "But why?"

"Mitskuni." Reprimanded Mori him softly.

"Gomen." Whined the small senior.

"Che."

Ryoma looked away from the teary scene and focused on Haruhi when she called his name.

"Ryoma-senpai, what are you doing here?"

"I came to tell you I'm leaving early today –"

"And why would we care about that?" snapped one off the twins.

Ryoma didn't bother to keep them apart.

" Frankly, I'm glad none off you seem to care." Replied Ryoma rudely.

"Senpai. "scolded Haruhi "There is no need to be so rude about it."

He sighed. "Anyway, I'm leaving now. I'm meeting Momo-senpai at the street courts. Will you be able to find your way to my place? Nanako will be there."

"Sure, I've been their enough before school started. I'll be fine."

"Good, I'll see you at dinner then."

Haruhi nodded.

When Ryoma turned to leave, various hosts grabbed him. Everything happened very fast after that. In a matter of seconds the tennis prodigy found himself bound with ropes to a chair.

"What the…?"

"And where did you think you were going, Echizen Ryoma-kun?" smirked Kyoya.

"I was hoping the street courts, but obviously I hoped for too much. I thought the rich were supposed to be civilized. But I find this treatment to be rather barbaric." Replied Ryoma grumpily.

"We adapt to our enemy."

"Right, then tell me four-eyes, what do you want?"

Kyoya stopped smiling at that insult.

'He really needs to come out more if that makes him feel insulted' thought Ryoma.

"We want you to stay away from my daughter!" screamed Tamaki almost hysterically.

"Daughter? I thought it was supposed to be z secret that Haruhi is a girl. I can't be kept a secret if you scream about it! Besides, where did your fangirls go?"

"They left a while ago, didn't you notice?" answered Kaoru.

A large sweat drop appeared on the back off Ryoma's head. How had he not noticed that?

"Not really, no."

"Anyway, leave Haruhi alone!" screamed Tamaki again.

"Do you always have to yell? Didn't anyone learn you about inside voices? " retorted Ryoma.

Haruhi was being suspiciously quiet.

"Besides, Haruhi can hang out with anyone she wants! That's not for you to decide. What do you have against me anyway?"

"I hate you! I don't want my daughter to hang around a hooligan like you!"

"Thanks, I hate you too." Said Ryoma dryly. "But really, a hooligan?"

"I think he's referring to the scene you caused at lunch yesterday." Supplied Kyoya.

"I didn't even start that one. Speaking of which, did you two make up?" said Ryoma, changing the subject abruptly.

"Of course!" exclaimed Hikaru. Kaoru nodded.

"Good, because I could care less. Now untie me!"

"No way!" screamed Tamaki.

"Senpai, that's enough. Untie him immediately!"

Finally, the voice of reason, Haruhi, had entered the conversation.

"But, Haruhi … " whined the self-proclaimed king of the Host Club.

"No but's senpai."

The girl began to untie Ryoma herself. Mori quickly helped her. Soon, Ryoma was free. He thanked both his saviors, grabbed his bag (the big one with his rackets as well as his school stuff)and made his way to the door.

"Please."

That one word made him stop. And he had almost made it to the door to! Chibi-Ryoma was crying inside his head. He turned around and saw the quiet host staring at him.

"Excuse-me?"

"He means: please tell us why Haru-chan is going to your house later." Explained Honey.

'Right, off course. Silly me. How could he not know that that whole sentence could be squished in one random word.' Twitched Ryoma.

He glanced at Haruhi. The girl caught his eye, sighed and nodded.

"Haruhi's father needs to go somewhere this weekend for his work. He leave today (Friday), but the convention only starts Monday. He just goes early to meet up with his colleges. So he'll be gone for almost a week and he asked my parents if Haruhi could stay at our place. We already did this once, before term started. And before you start being your overdramatic-selves, Haruhi will once again be sharing a room with my cousin, Nanako." Explained Ryoma.

"Like I'm going to believe that!" screamed Tamaki again.

"It's true, senpai." Sighed Haruhi. She was getting way too used to the dramatic King.

"Well, I don't approve! You can't stay with a poor ruffian like him. Who knows where he lives! Probably some rundown building with no heat and broken windows. I mean, for all we know, he doesn't even own a house! You're homeless, aren't you?"

Ryoma sighed as he saw the blond start panicking, again. That really couldn't be good for his heart… After this he would never accuse Momo-senpai off being a drama queen ever again.

"Listen, whether you approve or not, doesn't matter. Her real father and my parents agree and you can't change that!" reasoned Ryoma.

"But-"

"No but's! this topic isn't open for discussion! You may be rich, but it's time you learn you can't always have what you want!"

Tamaki and the other hosts looked as if they only saw him for the first time.

"Now, if you'll excuse me, I'm already late so I'll be leaving. I'll see you later Haruhi."

"Sure, bye. "agreed the girl.

"STOP!" screamed Tamaki.

""Will you stop screaming like a girl!" exploded Ryoma finally.

"Gomen, but we'll be going with you! We'll observe your commoner life from up close and we'll judge you on that!" said Tamaki, striking an elegant pose.

Seemed liked he had regained his composure.

The twins saluted, Honey looked excited, Kyoya and Mori looked interested and Haruhi face palmed.

"There is no way I'll be seen with you people!"

-To be continued … -