A/N: Hullo and welcome to this next chapter! So, one of you (my beloved reader, whom I platonically love so much) asked when this story is being set. Well, at the very beginning, of course! As for it being set in the progression of the anime or manga, it's set in my "artistic license universe" (which is a fancy term for "I have no freaking idea" and "Please continue reading" - I plea this while groveling and kissing your rings). I'm kidding! Actually, I'm partly using the anime timeline as a reference for the progression of The Little Things. And I will strive to invite all the characters from the original series (both anime and manga) to The Little Things.

However, to clarify, the year is 2006 and the month is April (I apologize for not making that clear). The first three chapters were set from April 1st to April 5th. Cool sidenote: April 5th, 2006 is recognized in China as the Qingming Festival, or 'sweeping of tombs day.' I consider it relevant for Haruhi and Yuki (who both reflect over the loss of a loved one, or in Yuki's case the loss of what never could be – being the reason I called Chapter Two 'A World Which Doesn't Exist'). Oh, and Chapter One was set on April 4, 2006 (which, this year – err, 2012 – was the date of the Qingming Festival; I hope you guys swept your departed loved ones' tombstones!). Anyway, thank you for asking such a relevant question – I'm really forgetful sometimes…

Chapter Four

Plan B: Avoid Haruhi at All Costs

April 12, 2006

I stared at the phone. When I first possessed it, I had thoroughly tried to convince myself it couldn't be Haruhi's and that the girlish young man I had seen in Music Room #3 was just a bizarre look-a-like. My first inclinations that that individual was actually Haruhi were wrong – they had to be! So, the matter is settled: my eyes deceived me, and I'm not crazy!

No, it's never that simple…

Over the next few days, I relentlessly stalked (as Yue ever so delicately put it) the young man with the exact same name as my childhood friend. And, still, I deemed it impossible to be her.

Haruhi was never the type to eat by herself in a classroom! She always had tons of her classmates flocking around her, either asking for homework help or dating advice (which she offered mercilessly, having no experience whatsoever with the opposite sex and finding the matter of their companionship time-occupying). I, of course, was two years ahead of her, but it never affected our friendship (embarrassingly because I frequently skipped classes to 1) harass Brain, erm Haruhi, or some other know-it-all who had the misfortune of being, well, intelligent, and/or 2) smoke behind the school, which had, consequently, been the reason I got kicked out, and, subsequently, became the next reason I inevitably ended my school career – by dropping out).

"You should just drop it." Tanaka grumbled as he messed with some of the wiring in my cottage. "It's interfering with your work. And you have a lot of better things to do. Hence, this house is a pigsty, and if Yue saw it, he'd probably kill himself."

I smirked (imagining the obsessively-organized, insufferable smart-ass using the loose wiring as a noose) and butted out my cigarette in the yellowed ash tray. "This isn't just something I can drop, you know?" I absentmindedly blew at the spider dangling above me. He rose up one of his legs, giving me his version of the finger, and began lackadaisically climbing back up to his lofty abode, shaking his hindquarters in the air.

"This little fucker is messing with me, Tanaka-san." I grumbled, lifting my slipper off my foot. The spite seemed to have gathered my intentions, squeaked, and crawled up his string faster than the other janitors did when avoiding Yue prior to the end of a workday. "That's right, you'd better run, you little bitch!" I laughed, and glanced to Tanaka, who was staring at me; as though I had grown another head. "What? He keeps giving me nasty looks, and making faces at me… I've called him Yue Junior, because he has nothing nice to say."

The old electrician stepped down from his ladder, and strode to the leaning couch and the busted-up coffee table which stood across it. He lifted the ash tray from it, sniffed, but set it back down; his expression revealing his disregard of the idea that had popped into that zapped head of his (probably the one insinuating I was smoking something other than tobacco).

I gritted my teeth as Tanaka lifted his baseball cap and nervously ran his hand over his sweaty, nearly bald head. "Are you sure you're…uh…alright? Maybe we should take you to the doctor… get one of those scans…"

"Are you suggesting that I'm crazy?" I leapt up. "That I've lost my marbles?! That I'm a few screws short of a hardware store?! As fruity as a bag of Skittles?! The last person who called me crazy got socked in the face!"

Tanaka held up his hands. "You're the one that said those things, not me…"

"The pen is mightier than the sword." Yue's charming voice interrupted us. He held a handkerchief to his mouth and nose as he entered the room. "Ugh, how can you live like this?" He scooted around the moldy boxes, and beheld my greasy self with absolute disdain. He shivered. "Hmpfh, I was wondering what smelled like dead dog in here! I presumed it was such a beast, but it's the resident herself!"

I glared at him. "I showered…two, three, uh, four," I counted off my fingers simply to gross Yue out. "Yeah, a week ago…and do you not see my surroundings, Yue-san. It's all useless crap, which I refuse to clean, because the school should clean it."

"The pot calling the kettle black…" Yue muttered. "And have you not realized it yet? WE," He motioned to himself, Tanaka, and me. "-ARE the school!" He shook his head, showing contempt for my laziness and disheveled appearance. I wish he'd just fire me already, but the bastard is persistent. "Ugh, maybe we should just hose you down outside! You would get the showers in the locker rooms' absolutely filthy!"

"I haven't had the time!" I shot back, allowing the little bit of redhead in me to show.

"Wrong! You've had time! You're just attempting to avoid that Fujioka he/she." Yue snapped. He lifted my hands, and grimaced. "Oh, how disgusting!"

"She's got the hands of a rice-planter from Hiroshima!" Tanaka added. He faked a cough. "But Yue's got the hands of a drag queen from the States."

I smiled, pleasantly, at Tanaka. "Thank you." I mouthed, and he tipped his baseball hat to me, making me blush. He returned to work, and for a moment it gave me time to think if Tanaka actually had a family. He always seemed to be working.

"Now, you listen here!" Yue interrupted my thoughts. He suddenly made a gagging sound. "Bleh… You smell like B.O. and cigarettes! I cannot speak to you when you are like this!" I lifted my armpit and sniffed, which only served to turn Yue a hilarious green color. I laughed at his disgusted expression. "Hit the showers, immediately, you filthy, disgusting girl! And, for the love of God, shave the hairy jungle you have occupying your…your…areas!"

The hot water which ran down my body felt so amazingly good that it nearly made me forget all of my troubles with the Haruhi look-a-like. Well, I guess that washing the weeks' worth of grime off me helped, too (what? Not all of us have time for something so basic). No, it's not because I've been trying ridiculously hard to avoid Haruhi (who happens to be at every other corner)… of course not… I've been…busy… Really, freaking busy… Too busy!

…I guess I should explain my reasoning:

Haruhi (the one who I am desperately hoping didn't actually get accepted into Ouran) isn't like me. She puts family and school ahead of everything else. Since I haven't strived to affirm either, it makes us a very unlikely duo. Still, we grew up around each other – same day care center, same kindergarten, same secret hideouts, same favorite restaurants, and same elementary and middle school. And people don't change.

Haruhi is still the practical, dependable, blunt, sardonic, and opinionated person that I've known since youth. And the dunderhead actually has high-expectations of me, which is as easy as explaining why the sun is hot. But our lives took very drastic turns after I was expelled and quit school! Here is my analysis of the possible outcomes for my situation:

First (and most probable), she was too busy studying for Ouran Academy's entrance exam to notice, and since I attended my second year in high school, I'm pretty safe (unless one of the middle school punks had siblings in my grade…okay, that's very likely…and if I think about it the schools are not too far apart…). Regardless, if she found me working here as a lowly janitorial servant, she's smart enough to put two and two together.

Second, if the bookworm didn't have her pretty little nose shoved into a book, and did listen to gossip for the entirety of February and May, she's been brooding over my futile stupidity for the past month and her annoyance has only been further kindled by my avoidance of her.

Either way, I don't want to reveal myself to her, since she will be ferociously pissed off no matter what scenario I've portrayed. As far as I'm concerned, she still thinks I'm in Higashi High, completing my third and final year of school. I really hope she still thinks that, because… because… well… I guess it's not my fear of her being angry that's keeping me from making her aware of the situation (she'd probably slap me, yes, but she hits like a girl…a really butch girl…). If she were anybody else, I'd greet them in that stupid Music Room #3 with a, "Hey, like how the *&%$ are you?! Me?! I'm like awesome! Great! Fantastic! I ditched school, since it was like such a drag, and took up a real job like wiping the asses of all the like rich schmucks here! Like, like, like, like, like!"

That declaration would only serve to put me in a rotten mood, not necessarily her… But, to make a long, conflicting story longer, it's that frustrated scowl she'll wear forever that will be impossible to live down. She's the only person who has actually believed in me and had expectations of me. Everyone else in the orphanage expected me to do what I, err, did: Quit, give up, throw in the towel, live free, and die hard.

"Yuki-senpai, don't give up, because only selfish people give up." She would say in that unbefitting condescending tone (being called selfish receives a similar reaction to being called crazy, in my case).

As self-reflective as I am (it's one of the few traits I actually feel superior for), it took me and that relaxed shower to realize that seeing Haruhi would only mirror the exact disappointment I already felt about myself.

I leaned my forehead against the cool tile. "How in God's name did you get into Ouran anyway, Brain?" I contemplated if I'd ever receive an answer to that question. Not that I need it. My nickname for Haruhi Fujioka is self-explanatory. So, it really is her that I've seen…

"You sure took a long time." Yue complained, lifting up a flashlight from the bench he had been "patiently" sitting on.
"Why did you wait for me then?" I snapped.

"I can't just leave you alone." Yue sighed. "I feel at least partially responsible for you. But, and Tanaka agrees, this past week you sure have been a moody bitch." He wagged his finger when I twisted around, like an angry, rabid dog. I would so bite his bony little finger clean off, if he wasn't the big constipated cheese here. "PMS'ing is no excuse for mistreatment of your superior or co-workers."

Before I knew it, we had ascended up the stairs to the main level, and I was brought to the view of the stars, tiny white specks in the sky which reminded me of my childhood. The window only made it seem more magical. My towel being my only garment, however, dampened my mood when three of the night guards outside noticed me. They lowered their glasses, and whistled. In response, I awkwardly waved. Maybe I could have been a stripper. Would have gotten paid more… Huh… A mental image of Haruhi immediately silenced those thoughts.

When Yue appeared behind me, the guards practically swallowed their mouths before cowering away. They can't really be thinking… I glanced behind me, and noticed Yue… shirtless.

I screeched, which caused him to drop the flashlight on the ground, breaking it. "What in the Hell's the matter with you, Yamamoto?" He demanded.

I wasn't coherent. Underneath the shirt, Yue wasn't as weak and scrawny as I thought he'd be. He was freaking built! His arms… his abs… holy God, his freaking pecks…. I'm positive he couldn't add any more 'pack' to his six pack. But instead of feeling horribly attracted and horny (as I know I should have) I instead became thoroughly embarrassed, as though I had just walked in on my foster dad in the shower…all I have to say about that is: crap happens.

I turned away, hiding my eyes in my hands. "Where the fuck is your shirt, dude?!"

"Language!" Yue admonished, angrily. "I've had it up to here with your foul mouth. And, as for my shirt, I've had it off for the past half an hour! I myself took a shower, since you were taking so long finishing yours! My shirt was too damp for further use!"

I began to sob. "I've been brain raped!" It took me a minute to realize my towel had fallen off. Yue was looking at me, not embarrassedly or perversely, but in a rather un-amused way. "Don't look at me, you sick, six-pack pervert!" I quickly covered myself with the towel again.

"You really need to have your head removed from your ass. It's interfering with my personal sanity and well-being." Yue muttered. He felt around for a light switch. The portion of hallway we were in would be completely and totally dark if it weren't for the light from the moon. This made the current situation all the more erotic and suitable for a scene in a porno.

I nervously quipped, "Y-Yue-san… Don't leave me alone here!"

"Don't tell me you're afraid of the dark?"

I huffed in indignation. "Get back here, six-pack pervert!"

"Quit nicknaming things, idiot!"

"I do not nickname things!"

"Yes, yes you do. You talk to yourself. I heard everything."

I jabbed my finger in the direction he had sauntered off to. "You heard nothing!"

~The Next Day~

I angrily slammed the bucket onto the floor, causing it to splash onto the ground. "Stupid six-pack pervert…" I grumbled as I knelt down and began scrubbing. "Stupid, pink-puke ballroom…" If I slip and fall in here again, I'm going to mass-murder everyone in this school.

"I think it's become a habit of us running into each other! I do believe we'll have to stop!" Tamaki chirped from behind me. I turned around to face him. When I saw his face, I couldn't help but smile; he was very handsome and gentlemanly and something about his smile was kind and naïve to meanness… "So, who is this 'six-pack pervert'? He sounds very…interesting." He phrased carefully, adding a light chuckle at the end of his statement.

I nervously removed the plastic gloves on my hands, and accepted Tamaki's. He lifted me up to my feet, and made a motion to the balcony. "My supervisor… He is a little…over-whelming sometimes. But please don't repeat that."

"Of course not, Princess!" Tamaki grinned, and I smiled back. He opened the fancy glass door for me, and I curtsied, which made him chuckle. "It'll be our little secret."

Being around Tamaki felt comfortable; his friend (what was it?), Kyoya, is the exact opposite. I figure it's because Tamaki's gayer than a handbag full of rainbows, but still. How could two people with such contrastingly different personalities be in the same room with each other, let alone be friends? I guess the same could be said for me and Haruhi. "I hate to correct you, Tamaki Suoh, but this is the first time we've seen each other in nearly a week."

Tamaki feigned a gasp, or at least I think he did. He might have been totally serious and apologetic, although I doubt it. He's still a rich-kid, after all. "I must apologize then, for neglecting my second favorite secret princess! Forgive me?" He led me to the edge of the balcony where we could fully view the cherry blossoms. The wind was picking up, which meant the blossoms wouldn't be around for much longer. It was sad. I hadn't really been able to enjoy them.

"Second favorite?" I giggled. I'll pray for you, favorite secret princess.

"Yes." This single word was so curt, that, for a moment, I thought I was stepping on broken glass. He looked so serious all of a sudden.

"Err, so you must be the one who's renting out the ballroom, huh?" I wondered, changing the subject. Tamaki immediately brightened when I asked.

"It will be a magnificent party for dancing and fun! All of the ladies will arrive in gowns and we will entertain them!" He explained the entire process of what a host does, and I simply listened. The way he moved his arms and spoke about making women happy, was highly entertaining. It reminded me of a small child who had determined dreams of being an astronaut. I pulled out a cigarette from the oversized pocket of my jumpsuit.

"Will Haruhi be there?" I asked, and he brought his gaze back to me. His jaw dropped as I searched my pocket for my lighter.

"Autumn princess… you smoke?" His voice sounded like the horrified squeak that that stupid spider made last night. I immediately flinched once the negative attention was turned on me.

"Yeah… It keeps my hands occupied." I admitted. "I figured since we were already outside…" He snatched it from my mouth.

"Ladies do not smoke!" He cried, dropping it to the ground and smashing it with his shoe. My eyebrow ticked.

"Hey, c'mon; that wasn't even lit!" I glared at him. "I'm not a lady, Suoh-san." I grumbled, shuffling through my pocket for another one. It occurred to me that right then was the perfect time to clarify if the Haruhi in his group was a girl or not. If it was Brain, then at least I'd know, instead of constantly wasting time thinking about it. "Haruhi Fujioka's a lady. She's a class-act. I wish I could be more like her." I admitted. It wasn't a lie.

Tamaki stared at me, a look of divine horror on his face. "Eh…di…Haruhi…girl…can't be…M-Mommy…" He straightened his tie, and stood up straight as a board. "I-I must be leaving, autumn princess. Excuse me." He strode down the balcony steps, and upon reaching the bottom darted across the grounds, flailing his arms, and looking like a bat out of Hell.

"Geez." I sneered and took out another cigarette. I lit it, and freaking enjoyed it along with the beautiful, rosy cherry blossoms. That is before Yue came to check on me and griped me out for 1) smoking, and 2) being a lazy, good-for-nothing.

~Alice in Eden

I loved writing this chapter so much!

Yuki and Haruhi's relationship is established, and Yuki's fear of confronting Haruhi is explained. Also, Yue is a sexy bitch underneath all that black, Resident Evil clothing. I'd like to point out that this chapter was a little more easy for me to write (since it felt natural). I hope you guys can give me some criticism, though! I need to be judged! Was this purebred poodle material? Or incestous mutt-spawn pit bull crap?

Anyhoo, hope you guys enjoyed this chapter! :D