Disclaimer: I do not own Ouran High School Host Club or Pride and Prejudice.

Chapter Three

Haruhi kept her nose buried in Pride and Prejudice for the rest of lunch; she had scarcely noticed the time passing, but realized all too quickly when the bell rang signaling the end of her free time. The honor student quickly packed up her belongings, including the untouched bento box she had brought for lunch; she'd be hungry later. After checking a second time to make sure she collected all of her things, she left the music room to head to her next class, going through the motions while her mind still lingered in Netherfield with Miss Austen's characters.

She had managed to get through several more chapters of the novel during lunch. There were moments when her eyes nearly shimmered in adoration of Mr. Bingley and his politeness, and moments when she was scowling ferociously at the text she held so delicately in her hands. The first of these moments was when Miss Bingley came to Mr. Darcy's side, claiming to know what he was thinking at the moment, and Mr. Darcy had the audacity to say that his mind was focused on the pair of "fine eyes" belonging to Lizzy. Haruhi practically fumed, angry with his hypocrisy and self-elevated superiority complex. "Stupid rich people," she mumbled almost inaudibly under her breath.

"Haruhi! Over here! We've been looking all over for you!"

With a sigh of frustration, Haruhi reluctantly pulled herself from her vexing reflections of Mr. Darcy; she would honestly never understand the women who poured adoration over that spiteful character. Having rid herself of all notions of a fictional world, Haruhi looked up to see who had called to her moments before when she had been lost in thought.

Before her, the hallway parted like the Red Sea, opening itself for the Hitachiin twins racing down the corridor at remarkable speeds. Haruhi inwardly gulped, fearing for any person who might wander into the hall unknowingly while carrying a large pile of books; they'd never stand a chance if they got into Hikaru and Kaoru's line of motion. Within seconds, the honor student felt two arms sling over her shoulders, one on each side of her. "Hey, Hikaru. Hey, Kaoru. What are you guys so worked up about? We saw each other less than an hour ago."

On her left side, Hikaru spoke up first. "Milord said that you were kidnapped by pirates…"

"…and we got worried," Kaoru finished on her right.

"I wasn't kidnapped by pirates or anything else ridiculous like that; I'm fine," Haruhi replied bluntly.

"Then where were you all of lunch?" Kaoru asked, arching an eyebrow.

Hikaru tagged on, "We always eat together." His eyes displayed curiosity, but his tone of voice bordered on hurt.

"I just had something I wanted to do, that's all. It's none of your guys' business anyway."

"But Haruhi—" they began together.

"Enough," she interrupted definitely, "we have to get to class; we don't have time for this." The twins looked a little hurt at her unwillingness to explain her absence during lunch, but their features were quickly masked with playful smiles.

"Okay, Haruhi, you're right; we don't want to be late for class," Kaoru nodded, forcefully ignoring his curiosity.

Hikaru looked shocked that Kaoru gave up on the interrogation, but if Kaoru wouldn't fight it, neither would he. "Yeah! I'll race you slow pokes there! One…two…three…GO!" With that, both twins laughed and took off down the hall, skillfully evading all disastrous collisions.

Haruhi sighed. She really did question her friends in the Host Club sometimes. With a well-deserved shake of her head, she treaded after the Hitachiin twins at her own pace, fully aware that she had already lost their race due to her few seconds of thought.

The rest of the day, surprisingly, was uneventful. Haruhi expected Tamaki to continue his tirade throughout the school, but it appeared as if he had ended his search for her. This caused a little confusion on Haruhi's part, but she shrugged it off, content to not worry about being thrown into a bone-crushing hug any second. Kyoya must have pulled off the miracle of subduing the frenzied host king. He had, after all, promised to take care of Tamaki, but Haruhi had obviously underestimated his ability. She would have to question and thank him later for his unanticipated continual assistance.

When Haruhi reported to Music Room 3 after school for club activities, she was surprised once more that Tamaki treated her as he always did—still with all the excitement his personality demanded, but no more than what she was normally subjected to. She must have really underestimated Kyoya's power of control over the Host Club president.

Club activities ran smoothly, despite the earlier chaos of the day. Time droned on, and Haruhi was excited as she lifted her eyes from her guest to find that she only had fifteen more minutes of club activities. All I'll have to do is finish cleaning up, and then I can go home and continue reading! It is a good thing I do not have much homework to finish tonight…

As soon as the last guest left Music Room 3, the hosts cleared out quickly. Hunny mentioned helping his younger brother train while dragging a stoic Mori out the door behind him. The Hitachiin twins explained that they couldn't stay to help clean up—once again—because they were helping their mother decide which new dresses to bring with her to her upcoming photo shoot. Tamaki offered no noble excuse, only admitting that he was too tired: the numerous princesses he had attended to, in addition to his search for Haruhi earlier in the day had exhausted him. That left Haruhi and Kyoya—again.

"I see a pattern forming for cleaning duty after club activities," Haruhi sighed. It wasn't that she particularly disliked staying after to help clean the music room, she just wished she had a little help with it today. For the entirety of the day after lunch, the honor student had wanted to continue reading, but couldn't seize the opportunity. If she were the only one tidying up the room—again—it would be even longer before she could go home and reopen her novel. With another disheartened sigh, she began to pile tea cups on a tray to take back to the tea station.

Kyoya couldn't help but agree. It was usually the two of them who remained after the rest of the hosts left—Haruhi to clean, and Kyoya to handle the club's funds. "Indeed, but it is probably best that way; the others would probably only get in the way."

Haruhi was taken back at his flat tone. Yes, it was not uncommon for Kyoya to sound rather blunt and indignant, but she sensed a tint of pent-up frustration in his voice that she had never heard before. "Senpai?" she tested softly, not wishing to upset him further if she had done something. When he did not reply, she tried again. "Is everything all right?"

It was here that Kyoya's brain started overexerting itself. What should he do? What had prompted Haruhi to ask that question? Had he not masked his exhaustion well enough, or was he incapable to concealing that emotion from the girl? He raised his eyes to meet hers from across the table. Her big, bright eyes contained a gleam of—concern? Kyoya was not accustomed to having that expression directed at him. He was given many other looks, but never concern. There was the high-expectation expression, the O-M-G-HE-JUST-SMILED-AT-ME-HE'S-SO-COOL- look, the I'm-scared-for-my-life visage, the yes-master expression, and many others… but never concern.

He was the third Otohori son; he was not supposed to be given concern, was supposed to be given expectations. Yet, somehow, Haruhi defied fate, and expressed worry for him. She was kind enough to grace him with it, but how should he respond? Should he deny all his fatigue and annoyance to save face, or should he behonest? What did that word even mean, anyway? Honest. The shadow king had never been honest. Sure, he told the truth—bluntly, he might add—but was he ever honest? To his family? To his his friends? To himself? To Haruhi? No. Kyoya always—always—concealed the majority of his character away from others; that was not honesty; it was deceit.

"Kyoya-senpai?" The words broke the shadow king from his reverie. His eyes snapped back to Haruhi's. "Do you not feel well? Perhaps you should go home and rest; you can do your bookkeeping tomorrow, after you feel better."

Kyoya swallowed hard, "Thank you, Haruhi, but I am well, I assure you."

Haruhi blinked. If he wasn't sick, what was wrong with him? There was definitely something that was bothering him. "Did something bad happen today? Is there anything I can do to help?" she asked, curious, but also wishing to be of some help to him, considering how nice Kyoya had been to her recently.

Was Kyoya's problem something Haruhi could help him with? He did not know. He did not even know what his problem was. There was a slight inkling of what was getting to him, but he could not prove, nor disprove it. He had never experienced anything remotely similar, so how was he to know?

With a relinquished sigh, Kyoya finally answered her. "I'm all right, Haruhi, just tired. Today has been exhausting. Thank you for your concern though," he recited politely, as he had been taught.

The honor student looked skeptical, but did not pester him. "If you say so, Senpai." She moved to finish taking the tea cups back to the tea station, letting her mind search for lighter conversation. "Senpai, how did you end up taking care of Tamaki-senpai earlier? He didn't overreact at all when he finally saw me. What did you tell him?" she inquired curiously.

The third Otohori son sighed again. "I told him that you went home to have lunch with your father; I figured he would be content with that answer, since he has his father complex with you. It took… awhile… to defend why you didn't rush to the cafeteria to eat with him—for he wanted to eat with his "daughter" too—but I think I eventually broke through a thin wall with the knowledge that you wanted to eat with your real father."

Haruhi nodded. "That was a good alibi, Senpai. I couldn't think of an excuse when Hikaru and Kaoru asked where I was," she paused to insert a light giggle, "so I just denied them any information." She turned to smile at Kyoya, who surprisingly returned hers—though slightly smaller—she was content with herself for seeming to distract him from his earlier irritation.

Both were silent for a few moments, each relishing in their own inner thoughts. At length, Haruhi broke the silence. "Senpai," she began, "thanks for earlier. I mean, it was nice of you to help me find an opportunity to read, and to help cover for me."

Kyoya looked, and felt, shocked at the recognition, for he had not given helping Haruhi a second thought. He helped her earlier because she had been in need of assistance; it was the only logical action to make. It had never occurred to him, for once, to expect thanks or recognition for his actions. Kyoya had not acted with the hopes of being given anything in return; he only wished to assist Haruhi.

When the astonishment of her words left him, and logical thought was enabled again, Kyoya delivered a genuine smile. "Do not mention it, Haruhi. I'm glad I could help." The shadow king felt a flutter somewhere deep within his core—was that… honesty? He had not concealed any hidden meaning in his word; they had been genuine. They came from… his heart?

Haruhi smiled once more at him before reaching for her backpack. "Okay, Senpai. I'm glad you helped too. You should head home and get some rest though, since you're so tired. I'll see you tomorrow, okay? Bye Kyoya-senpai." Haruhi waved before slipping out of Music Room 3, eager to return home to curl up and read.

"Goodbye—Haruhi." Kyoya looked stoically around the empty music room, deciding against staying to enter the day's statistics. He quickly packed his laptop, and then left the room, turning the lights off as he went.

"Dad, I'm home," Haruhi called as she walked into her kitchen. When she was given no reply, she ventured further into the house, trying to locate her father, who should have been home from work by then. Haruhi chuckled to herself as she came across him, asleep on their couch. "Goodnight, Dad," she whispered as she planted a soft kiss on his cheek, and pulled the throw-blanket up against his shoulders.

Haruhi made her way into her room, quickly changing into her pajamas. She tenderly pulled her copy of Pride and Prejudice from her backpack, and tucked herself under the covers, opening to where she left off. It was much later, in the early hours of the next day, when her eyes finally closed. Her eyelids drooped heavily, and she barely had the consciousness to replace her bookmark in the text. Exhaustion consumed her mind, and Haruhi smiled as the world of Netherfield descended upon her subconscious state—lulling her into a pleasant and charming dream.

A/N: Okay-so I am VERY, MOST SINCERELY SORRY. I know it has taken me FOREVER to update this story, and you cannot begin to imagine how bad I feel! I had half of chapter three written for awhile after I finished chapter two... but then school started, and that brought calculus and marching band, and college, the school musical, and some anime conventions... and I was completely overwhelmed, and then I had writer's block... We had a day off today, and I took one look at my email and saw all of the reviews there... and told myself I wasn't allowed to leave my computer chair until I finished my chapter, and I asked a friend of mine to spam my email, deviant art, and facebook with messages telling me to stop procrastinating and finish this chapter. It worked. =) Again, I am sooooo sorry for not updating in forever; I am going to try to find the time to write more often, but I can make no promises, at least until Thanksgiving break. Thank you so much to everyone who has reviewed, favorited, or subscribed to this story. You guys are the best! I hope you enjoyed this chapter-and please leave a comment, I'd love to hear what you think! xoxo