Chapter 4: Labyrinth

A/N: I know, I haven't updated in forever, though not a lot of people actually know about my story...but I feel obligated to update regularly, or at least attempt to. Thanks for taking the time to read my story and also to those who have reviewed and followed! Yue Guang Kuroneko, thank you!

Disclaimer: I do not own Ouran High School Host Club

They are a bunch of hyperactive five year olds, thought Haruhi in the clubroom the next day. The twins were, once again, teasing Tamaki; chasing him across the clubroom with a plastic bug.

"Look, Milord," started Hikaru.

"It's moving its legs!" Kaoru finished.

"You evil doppelgangers! How dare you treat your Father with such disrespect! I, who has watched over you everyday of your lives and has protected you against the evils of the world and-"

"Milord," stated Kaoru, who had stopped chasing him because of the absurdities that Tamaki was blurting out.

"We've only known you for two years," Hikaru deadpanned.

"And besides, you are totally incapable of protecting anybody," Kaoru stated. Tamaki, distressed by the words of the twins, proceeded to turn to his corner of woe. Haruhi shook her head at their antics.

"Senpai, you do realize it's a plastic bug right?" These words seemed to have brought Tamaki back from his catatonic state.

"Haruhi! You are the only one who cares for me around here! What would I do without you?" he chorused.

"Senpai, I was only pointing out the obvious. Besides, you have been living fine without me for 17 years," she stated bluntly. Kyoya, who was sitting at his usual table, couldn't help but silently chuckle at Haruhi's bluntness. One of the reasons why she never ceases to surprise me, he thought.

"Hey, Kaoru," said Hikaru to his brother, but loud enough for the rest of the hosts to hear. "Have you noticed that Milord hasn't called Haruhi his daughter?"

"You're right Hikaru. He hasn't called her his 'precious daughter' all day."

Kyoya, who was silently working out calculations from the day's events in his infamous notebook, clenched his teeth at the twin's observation. He knew why Tamaki had stopped calling Haruhi his daughter. He ignored the stab in his chest and decided to ignore the rest of the club.

"Haruhi?" Tamaki asked, voice trembling.

"What, Senpai? I need to finish cleaning here so I can get home to do chores and study," she replied. She knew how time-consuming Tamaki could be, and therefore, was trying to get rid of him.

"Well, I was, uh, wondering if you would like me to, erm, give you a ride?" he finished, blushing.

"Thank you, Senpai, but I would rather walk home."

"But, Haruhiiiiiiiii," he whined.

"I appreciate the offer, Senpai, but as I said, I would rather walk home," she replied, this time with kindness in her voice. Kyoya watched the scene from afar, struggling to contain his rising temper. That idiot. Why did he have to fall in love with her? No, why did I have to fall in love with her? Love is dangerous; it corrupts people. Makes them irrational, he mentally scorned. Yet, I let myself fall into its trap, he reminded himself.

He glanced around the clubroom. He spotted Haruhi trying to shake off Tamaki from her. I wonder how she feels about him? You can never know what she is thinking. She smiled as she rolled her eyes at his melodramatic ways. He is annoying her to no end, yet she smiles at him? Well, that is Tamaki's charm, he thought grimly. Looking around once more, he quickly gathered his things and left the clubroom. He took quick, long strides down the hallway, made a left, then exited the school. He headed towards the outdoor maze. Having memorized the entire maze, he quickly found himself in the center. He took a seat on a bench, and sighed.

What's wrong with me? I need to get over this. Maybe I don't love her. It could just be the effect of teenage hormones. Yes, that's it. Teenage hormones. Just a bunch of testosterone going haywire. Perfectly normal. A logical explanation for all of this, he thought, trying to convince himself. He pulled out his laptop and started to open up files that he had been working on. He forced himself to concentrate. After 10 minutes of struggling, he gave up. It was pointless. A certain small brunette would not leave his mind. He leaned back on the bench and closed his eyes. If it was just hormones, I wouldn't be acting like this.

Haruhi was getting annoyed. Which shouldn't be anything new since she was dealing with the host club. But they had gone just a step too far.

"Hikaru, Kaoru, Senpai. What have you done?" she snapped. The twins nervously glanced nervously at each other, while Tamaki hid behind them. Hikaru cleared his throat.

"Um, well, Kaoru and I were just playing around with Milord. We were just chasing him, and he crashed into the cart..."

"And the rest is obvious," finished Kaoru, chuckling nervously. Haruhi glared at them, and scowled at the wreck they made. Because the twins were chasing him, Tamaki crashed into the cart that held a tray with a tea set, that still had a pot of tea. Mentioned cart fell, and the pot emptied its contents on Haruhi's bookbag. Not to mention the carpet that Haruhi didn't even want to know the price of.

"My notes are soaked! Guys! I have a test to study for tomorrow!" she growled. "And you ruined the carpet! What if Kyoya-Senpai adds it to my debt?"

Tamaki, at this point, finally decided to come out from behind the twins and into his father role.

"Haruhi! Daddy is soooo sorry! Don't worry about Mother; I'll make sure he won't add to your debt. But your notes! Oh, my precious daughter won't be able to study, and she will fail the test! She will lose her scholarship and get kicked out! No! Daddy will not allow it! Haruhi, I will-"

"Shut up, Senpai," she snapped. "You're being annoying." She picked up her drenched bookbag, and walked out, ignoring the blonde who was wailing about how his daughter doesn't love him and the twins who were laughing at their King in his misery.

Those idiots. My notes are ruined, and so is my bookbag. I can just wash and dry my bookbag, but my notes...Haruhi continued to walk, until finally leaving the school. She gazed around outside, spotting the maze . I've never actually tried to find the center,might as well try it now, she said to herself as she walked towards it. She made a turn and walked a bit, then made a right turn. She stopped; she had reached a dead end. She frowned. She went back and made a left turn instead. She was determined to find the center of this maze.

Its been almost an hour and I still haven't reached the center, she grumbled. She was sweating, sore, and aching. She was not exactly the best athlete. Why did I even attempt this? Well, I'll try this next turn, if I don't get there, I'll just find my way out of here. To her surprise, this turn led her to the center of the maze. She beamed. I found it! I'll just sit here for a bit, then go home. She was about to take a seat when she saw the last person she would have expected to see.

"Kyoya-Senpai?" she blurted out.

Kyoya, who was still deep in thought, nearly jumped at the sound of her voice.

"Haruhi," he replied coolly. When did she get here? Why is she here? Kyoya asked himself. "What brings you here?"

Haruhi studied him. Strange, he's never caught off guard. And why is he out here to begin with?

"What are you doing out here Senpai?" she asked, completely disregarding his question. "Also, what's wrong? You seem... 'out of it' today." He raised one elegant eyebrow at her in question, and pushed his glasses up his nose.

"I don't know what you are talking about, Haruhi. I'm quite alright," he lied. Haruhi looked at him skeptically, then shrugged. Fine, don't tell me. Keep everything to yourself, as always.

"Ok, then. I guess I'll be leaving, Kyoya-Senpai", she says, before turning to leave.

"Hold on, Haruhi. I was just about to leave myself. Would you like a ride home?" he asked before he could stop himself. She looked at him warily. Did she hear correctly? He actually offered her a ride? Well, he might open up.

"Sure, Senpai. Thanks." She smiled at him before he turned away to begin walking out of the maze . She followed behind, wondering where this rare, but not unwanted, act of kindness came from.

Kyoya glanced at her from the corner of his eye. He didn't think she would actually agree. This girl, so unpredictable and complex. Like a maze. He grinned as he saw her struggling to catch up to him. Curse his long legs; he's only walking yet I'm having a hard time trying to catch up to him, she grumbled.And how does he know the way out of the maze? That's Kyoya-Senpai for you. As they both walked towards his limo, a boy who acts young for his age was watching them from a window with a grin.

"Good luck, Kyo-chan," Hunny whispered. Mori patted his head and also looked out the window. Hunny looked up at him and saw a worried look pass his face.

"It won't be easy," Mori stated. "But not impossible either."