The Bear on the Mantle

(A/N: Another update! Apparently, when it rains, I get a writing kick like nothing else. So, anyways, this chapter focuses on the twins, mostly, with a little bit of Tamaki. I feel that I've written some people OOC in this, but I hope I haven't... Oh. And another thing. -evil grin- If people don't review. I will stop updates. Yes, I realize that was a subordinate clause right there, but seriously, I love reading reviews for ideas and encouragement. Even a 'nice story, keep going!', which takes five seconds to write, is good enough for me! So review, review, review! And read, of course, but what's the point of review if you don't read it?)


"Whatever it is, no." Haruhi said, cell phone wedged between her shoulder and ear as she picked up her bag and started off for lunch.

"Awww, Haruhi! You're saying no to ootoro?" Hikaru smirked into the phone. Well, Haruhi couldn't see him, but she imagined he was smirking. She knew those darn twins too well.

"…" Haruhi twitched, sighing, "Where are you?"

"Outside. Look to your left." Hikaru said, as Kaoru yelled, "HARU-HI!" Haruhi sighed, waving as the exuberant twins, dressed impeccably as usual, waved her over to their limo.

"You two have to stop taking me out for lunch everyday." Haruhi said, allowing herself to be hugged and slid in.

"But you enjoy it." Kaoru laughed, waving at the driver to go. Haruhi ignored this point, continuing,

"And you know you two aren't supposed to call me while I'm at classes."

"We love you too, Haruhi." Hikaru said, rolling his eyes. Haruhi sighed, shaking her head. She may have told the host club to go home, and the twins to stop bothering her, but truth be told, they came back everyday. The host club was always at her apartment. The twins were always picking her up for lunch. Tamaki called her every possible moment. Huni and Mori made sure her refrigerator was fully stocked at all times. Kyouya…well, Kyouya did whatever it was Kyouya did.

"Hey, Haruhi!" Kaoru interrupted her thoughts, "Today is a special day!" Hikaru grinned, taking his cue.

"A very special day." Haruhi eyed the two suspiciously.

"Today, we finished the Hitachiin summer line!" They chorused.

"Oh, is that all?" Haruhi shrugged. "That's nice—" She was cut off, as they continued,

"And we want YOU to model for it!" They grinned, squashing Haruhi in their hug.

"No." She said simply, "And get off."

"Ah, Haruhi's being stubborn again, Hikaru." Kaoru sighed, still clutching Haruhi.

"But we didn't expect any less, didn't we, Kaoru?" Hikaru replied. Haruhi heard the smirk in their voices.

"So that's why we took precaution, of course." Kaoru finished, as the driver informed them,

"We've reached the studios, Hitachiin-sama."

"You…two…" Haruhi growled. The twins had tricked her. Again.

--

"No. I have class in an hour, guys!" Haruhi protested.

"Skip it for once!"

"Yeah, all work and no play makes Haruhi a dull host!"

"Kaoru, I'm not a host anymore. Hikaru, I'm not wearing that, it's not going to fit."

"Of course it'll fit! We designed it specifically to your measurements!" Hikaru said wickedly, thrusting a frilly pink sundress at her.

"Sine when do you have my measurements?" Haruhi asked, glancing at said dress, all protests against skipping class forgotten.

"Kyouya gave them to us! We make clothes for you too, remember, Haruhi?" Kaoru replied cheerfully, "Now be a good girl and go change. We'll call the college and tell you're sick and taking the rest of the day off if it'll make you feel any better."

"I should have just moved to America." Haruhi muttered, as she opened the door to the (all too familiar) dressing room.

"You did!" Hikaru called back,

"And lasted three days before coming back!" Kaoru finished, grinning. The door slammed, and the grin softened into a sweet smile.

"Ne, Hikaru?"

"Eh, Kaoru?"

"Our toy's changed, hmm?"

"We have too, haven't we?" Hikaru turned to smile at Kaoru. The only sound in the room was the soft background music and the rustling of Haruhi, changing. Hikaru tilted his head up to stare at the glass ceiling.

"I wonder how long it'll take before Tono confesses, now that I've given up." Hikaru commented, more to himself than anyone else. Kaoru blinked.

"Hikaru…?"

"Ah, nothing." Hikaru replied, as Haruhi stepped out.

"Can we please get this over with so I can get back to class?" She sighed, twirling once, before noticing the mood of the twins.

"Eh? Guys?" She asked, blinking at their silence. She had just said this, however, when the two launched themselves at her, rubbing their cheeks against hers.

"Ohh! Haruhi!"

"You're so cute!"

"Absolutely adorable!"

"You have to wear this to dinner so everyone else can see!"

"Tamaki'll have a fit!"

"Wait!" Haruhi suddenly said, panicking, "What's this about dinner?!"

"Oh," Hikaru said evilly, "Didn't Kyouya tell you?"

"We're all going to the Ohtori's new restaurant tonight. Exclusively, of course." Kaoru said offhandedly. Haruhi sighed. At this rate, she'd never make it through law school.

--

"Takashi, Takashi! Haru-chan looks cute, ne?" Huni crowed, bouncing around Haruhi, inspecting her clothes.

"…Ah." Mori replied, with the slightest hint of a smile. Haruhi sighed, as Kaoru adjusted the ribbon in her hair. She felt like a doll. A living, breathing, going-to-law-school-toy-of-unscrupulous-twins doll. Haruhi was worried, however, about the lack of Tamaki-hugs that had not occurred so far. Tamaki was cowering behind Kyouya, clearly wanting to come over, but not, for some reason. So, for once, Haruhi made the first move.

"Tamaki-senpai, are you alright?" Haruhi asked, leaning over to stare at the Frenchman.

"Haruhi…cute…too…" Tamaki said, mumbling.

"Senpai?" Haruhi blinked.

"Just ignore him, Haruhi. He's still in shock. And if he doesn't get off me in about 4 seconds, I'm going to call his mother and tell him how her baby boy's really doing." At this, Tamaki jumped away.

"Kyouya! You wouldn't call Maman!" He said.

"Oh, really?" Kyouya asked menacingly, glasses flashing. Tamaki decided not to test that statement, instead moving away to a chair, muttering about hen-pecking wives and scary mothers abusing their husbands.

"Tamaki, are you really ok?" Haruhi asked, sitting down next to him.

"I'm fine, Haruhi. Kyouya's just mad because…well…" Tamaki looked embarrassed, "I sort of called him at work and wouldn't shut up for an hour…"

"Oh." Haruhi sighed, Typical.

"…or three." Tamaki finished. Haruhi blinked. Then laughed. The whole club turned to look, as Haruhi tried to calm herself down.

"Three hours, Tamaki-senpai?" She asked, eyes sparkling.

"Five. We're at the corner table, Haruhi, Tamaki." Kyouya said, striding past them.

"What could be so important that you'd have to call Kyouya and talk for five hours?" Haruhi asked, tilting her head and looking up. Tamaki blushed.

"…Well…it was sort of…Ah, well…I'll tell you some other time…" He said feebly. Haruhi blinked, then shrugged.

"Alright then. Are you sure you're alright, Tamaki-senpai?"

"Yes. Um…Haruhi?"

"Yes, Tamaki-senpai?"

"Tamaki."

"What?" Haruhi asked, confused. Tamaki took a deep breath.

"Just Tamaki."


(A/N: Oh! And. I'm really, really, really trying to make each of my chapters longer, but I really have to push myself, because I get to a point where it's just such a perfect ending, and I have to stop. So depending on how hard I push myself, the chapter lengths will vary. Oh, and concerning dialogue, can you tell who's talking when? I seem to have a problem with that.)