Author's Note:

I tried to balance the differences and insecurities between Haruhi and the twins as a comparison.


Chapter Four:

|| Familiar Faces ||

xxx


Ranka sighed, watching his daughter as she fixed her hair.

He took in the pink dress that he knew one of her friends had given her and smiled.

He knew in some ways she disliked the Host Club because of the amount of distractions it caused, and was one of the main reasons she was trying to sort out her life. But he also knew she had the best years of her life at the Academy. Despite his initial disapproval of the party, he reasoned it was a good thing for her and probably would have encouraged her to go if she hadn't decided it herself.

Haruhi wasn't one to be too concerned with her physical appearance, but the prospect of seeing old friends made her nervous and excited. Satisfied that her hair was sitting just right, her fringe set in the style she had at school, while the rest was brushed and left to its own devices; she glanced up and smiled at her dad.

"Better be safe kiddo." He told her, but his eyes were sparkling with good intentions.

"I will." She promised and gave him a swift hug, before stepping out the door, bag in hand.

She had planned her own way there, but wasn't surprised to find one of Honey's limos and a driver waiting for her outside.

"Miss Fujioka." He greeted her.

She thought it was strange that after years from the Host Club plots and parties she'd be unused to being greeted as someone rich, but it seemed to be another habit she was yet to get rid of.

Haruhi had been to Honey's manor before, which sometimes resembled a dojo more than anything, but as she arrived and was shown in through to a much larger hall, she realised even the Haninozukas had a place ready for formal parties.

"This way Miss Fujioka," a butler called, guiding her through to the main room.

She hadn't even properly taken in the room, before she felt a small body crash into hers.

"Haru-chan you made it!" Honey called out, slightly muffled between her middle and the ever present Usa-chan.

"I told you I'd think about it, didn't I?" She replied and found she was smiling widely.

"Yeah." The voice belonged to none other than Mori, who stepped forward and plucked Honey from her, so he could hug her without interference.

She was eager to ask them questions, especially since she had yet to survey her surroundings, when a familiar voice broke in.

"Greetings Haruhi, Honey, Mori."

All three turned around as Kyoya approached them, lacking his notebook and dressed neatly in a black suit.

"Kyo-chan!" Honey called out, but thankfully didn't move to hug him.

"Well Haruhi, it's been a while." He said coolly, but with the slightest trace of a smile.

And it had. She hadn't seen Kyoya for a few months at least.

"It's good to see you." She replied.

"Honey, perhaps you shouldn't neglect your guests." Kyoya said unexpectantly, and Honey realised he was being told he wasn't needed.

Against his desire to spend time with Haruhi he complied and tugged on Mori's arm. "'Kay, come on Takashi."

Haruhi tilted her head to the side and observed the former Shadow King.

"Would you like to dance?" He asked her, offering a hand.

She took it and he lead her into a slow dance.

There was nothing romantic about it, which was good, because Kyoya was still quite intimidating even if you were friends with him. There wasn't a lack of charm, but whenever she was near him she had the feeling that he was constantly calculating.

"So Haruhi, do you recognise any of the guests?"

Haruhi blinked, startled by his question. "Well not really, I barely had a chance to see who was here before Honey got to me." She explained.

"Ah, what a shame." Was all he said in reply, only confusing her more.

"Should I recognise anyone?" She asked, beginning to look around. She spotted a lot more women than men.

"Well there are a lot of your former clients and friends from Ouran." He smiled genuinely as he twirled her around. "Honey and Mori did a wonderful job of inviting old friends, Kurakano is over there, and I saw Kasanoda before as well." He told her, listing people she had been close with for her benefit

To her own disappointment, she hadn't been as vigilant with keeping contact with her friends as she would have liked, and looking back on it now she felt a stab of guilt.

"I'd like to see them." She told him and he smiled again.

"Certainly." He released her, without any hint of slyness or hidden motives.

Kasanoda she discovered was surrounded by women, which made her smile and so she decided to see Kurakano instead.

Kurakano knew she was female, but at the time, years ago, it had been a shock since she was one of Haruhi's former clients and had developed a crush on her. Luckily, she eventually got used to it and was one of Haruhi's good friends, (hopefully despite the lack in contact).

She almost didn't recognise Haruhi when she stepped forward and offered a quiet greeting. The much longer brown hair confused her, until she remembered the wide brown eyes and friendly smile.

"Haruhi!" She cried with happiness and enveloped her in a hug, despite the months that they hadn't seen each other.

Breathing a sigh of relief, Haruhi returned the hug with equal warmth and then pulled back, smiling like an idiot.

"How are you?" She asked.

"Great actually, my mother has been giving me more work at the family company and I'm handling it well." Kurakano answered brightly.

She nodded but didn't try to talk about her own life; she didn't like admitting to herself that she could have worked harder.

"Are you enjoying the party?"

Haruhi laughed and shook her head. "Well I only just arrived, but it's great seeing everyone."

"Oh I understand, but it's so nice to see all the Host Club members again, except for Tamaki of course."

She smiled and nodded again in reply and then frowned as she took in her words.

"Wait, all the members?"

Kurakano blinked in surprise. "Sure, Kyoya is over there, Mori is over there," she pointed, "and Honey is talking to Kaoru."

Haruhi whipped around to stare in the direction she was pointing.

Sure enough, next to the much smaller Honey, was a taller guy with light brown, almost red, hair and a familiar smile on his face.

"Haruhi?" Kurakano asked her hesitantly.

Realising she was being utterly rude, she smiled apologetically.

"I'm sorry Kurakano, but can I talk to you later?"

Understanding dawned in the other woman's eyes and she smiled. "Sure, I'll see you later."

Haruhi carefully made her way over, hindered by the sheer amount of people that she vaguely recognised.

"Oh hey Haru-chan!" Honey called eagerly and waved when he spotted her weaving her way towards them.

Kaoru turned around at Honey's words, surprise evident on his face. When he spotted her, despite her changed appearance, his face broke into a huge grin.

"Haruhi!"

Laughing, she came forward as quickly as her heels would allow and hugged him.

She wasn't one for being over-emotional.

She didn't cry or break down, but she did hold onto him tightly, both of them laughing just like old times, because she had found one of her best friends.

And he was happy to see her.


A/N:

So they're all together, Hikaru will come in the next chapter. I have to say that it won't be love at first sight because I believe that's highly unlikely, it'll be gradual.

- Mae.