I don't know why, but I always get these impulses to change the summary. I'm sorry, it's just a weird fetish of mine. And I made this fic's first 'villain' Kuze Takeshi, who is a manga-only character. For anyone who has never read the manga, just know that he has a one-sided rivalry with Kyouya, and is obsessed with oranges while the peel is still on. Kaoru kind of explains him in the chapter.

Warning: this chapter does talks about narcotics like heroin and that kind of stuff. They're not doing it, but would mere mentioning cause the rating to go up?

Anyways, thanks for reading!


Haruhi was not dumb.

She was smart. Obviously.

Which was why she was not amused when she under covered the truth of the Ayanokoji case.

After a few minutes of dozing, she'd gone straightaway to the laptop that was already set-up. Hn. She didn't own a laptop.

There was a note next to it. "Think of this as a welcoming gift."

She sat down and turned on the computer. But as she waited for the screen to turn on, she realized something.

There hadn't been a laptop in her room before she fell asleep.

--

"Is this your idea of a test?" she addressed the twins next morning. "Perhaps you're thinking that I need to be tested of my worth before I can work with you."

And in both of their most innocent voices, they said, "What?"

"You know what," she said with a wry look. "That Ayanokoji case Suoh-san gave me. He said that you guys needed information on her."

"So what about it?" Hikaru asked, a piece of toast in his mouth.

"She's dead," Haruhi deadpanned, "that's what. I found her file from the police department. She was a spy or something like that. Caused a bit of trouble for you guys six months ago."

"Then that's wonderful news," Kaoru beamed. "You've passed! Congratulations!"

"Thank you very much," she said sarcastically. "Then what does that prove? That I know how to use a laptop?"

Hikaru finished his toast. "Well, yes that too, but only so many people can access information from the police department. Then that means there's another good use for you."

"Why use me when you have Haninozuka-san?" she asked. "He has an uncle who is a police captain."

Kaoru sat upright. "How do you know about Hunny-senpai's uncle?" he demanded.

She shrugged. "You know things," she offered vaguely.

"Oh well, whatever," Hikaru said. "We've got a meeting to go to in about an hour. Haruhi, you should come too since it's all of us. There's this new deal that we've been offered, and Tamaki-senpai wants all of our inputs."

"An hour?" she protested. "But that's not enough time for me to do research."

"You can read my notes," Kaoru said, "I don't mind sharing."

She sighed. "Thanks, Kaoru."

So it looked like she was here to stay. Haruhi could only wonder where this path would lead her next.

--

"Kuze Takeshi," Tamaki began, "is starting a new business – in narcotics. He will come to us with a deal, asking us for protection and money from the police and courts. He will be asking for finance, and right now, that price is at five hundred million yen; we're promised to receive a piece of the action, but nobody knows how much."

Hikaru continued, "He has connections in Thailand, where the poppy is grown. Then he ships it to the Thailand-Burma border, where it gets produced into heroin. Right now, it seems that the Burmese plants are protected in every way, so there's no trouble in that regard."

"The only trouble then," Kaoru picked up, "is bringing it into this country and any further distribution. Also, the initial capital." He looked to Hunny and Mori. "Do you guys want to add anything? Hunny-senpai? Mori-senpai?"

"No, I think you've covered everything, Kao-chan," Hunny replied. "The only question now is: What does Kyo-chan want?"

Everyone looked at Kyouya. He had yet to say anything, preferring to silently read through the folders of notes.

"No," he finally said. "Our answer is no."

"But Kyouya-senpai, if we just stick to protection and finance, it should be okay!" Hikaru exclaimed. "I know that you don't like Kuze, but you wouldn't let that cloud the potential profits of this operation!"

"Ohtori-san…doesn't like Kuze-san?" Haruhi whispered to Kaoru. "This wasn't in the notes."

"I'll explain later," he mouthed.

"Not simply that, Hikaru." Tamaki stood up. "It's not a matter of us not believing in Kuze's words or liking or disliking him, it's about our morals, too. Drugs are a dirty business. Dangerous too. We can't have our men being arrested and thrown in jail. And if they talk to the authorities, we will suffer greatly." He sat back down.

"But, the potential of the rewards…is astounding!" he tried. To no avail.

"We've talked about this, Hikaru," Kyouya said. "We don't deal drugs. Do you understand? No matter how reaping the rewards may be, the cons of this is also – as you said – astounding."

"So when will we tell Kuze our answer?" Mori asked.

"A meeting has been scheduled for tomorrow at ten," Kaoru answered.

Hikaru was still fuming.

"Listen to me, Hikaru," Kyouya addressed him. "This has nothing to do about who Kuze is. It has nothing to do with what his offer is. It's only a matter of principle. That is the difference between us and all the other Groups. Surely you can understand that."

"Yes, Kyouya-senpai," he muttered back.

"Good." Kyouya smiled. "Then this meeting is over."

--

"So basically, it's a one-sided rivalry," Haruhi said. She placed her elbow on the table and leaned on her chin against her palm.

"Yeah, pretty much," Kaoru said. "Don't ask me why, but Kuze has always had this fixation of beating Kyouya-senpai. Not that he has ever come close. Kyouya-senpai doesn't really care about it. I think he only deals with it because it amuses him."

"Then why doesn't he just give up? If he has no chance?"

"Maybe some people just don't know how to," he said.

"Okay, then, why does he come to Ohtori-san? I'm sure he could go to someone else that would want this deal."

Kaoru grinned. "Because we're the most powerful group in Tokyo, Haruhi-chan. We have the most connections inside the police and the politicians. God, we have so many people on our payroll. But it's all worth it – because then people always come to us first. Then we can do whatever we want with it. That's how we know everything."

Haruhi listened. It made sense, of course, but did this also mean that her former boss might have been on their payroll? That would have explained a lot.

Her puzzled look must have alerted Kaoru because he quickly replied, "And no, the police department you worked for was not on our payroll. It's small with not a lot of power. It would have been a waste of money for us."

"Thank you for your reassurance."

"You're welcome."

Looking across the room, Kaoru saw his brother hunched on his bed, probably still upset over the meeting. "Hikaru," he called out, "don't tell me you're still moping."

"Shut up, Kaoru."

"So Hikaru is mad."

"Shut up. How come none of you guys bothered to stand up for me? Even you, Kaoru. Don't you guys see the money we could make from this? We'll become even more powerful. More powerful than we already are above the other Groups in Tokyo, Kanto, and Japan." Hikaru sat up.

"Money isn't everything Hikaru. Besides, it's not like we're in a lack of it."

"It's not bad to have more, is it?"

"It's bad because it's the wrong type of money, Hikaru."

"Shut up." He went back to lying down.

Kaoru turned back to Haruhi. "Sorry about that. He disagrees with Kyouya-senpai sometimes, but it's all for the better."

"I see. Well, I won't waste your time for any longer." Haruhi stood up. "Thanks for telling me about Kuze-san."

"No problem."

Haruhi turned to leave. "Oh, Haruhi – wait!"

She turned her head around. "What?"

"When we meet him," Kaoru slowly said, "just know that he likes oranges."

"Oranges?"

"Yeah. Just know that he really, really likes them."

"Um…okay."

--

Kuze Takeshi was a tall, well-built man. He had sharp black eyes, and carried an air of quiet dignity. He was also eating in orange.

With the peel still on.

Maybe this is what Kaoru was talking about.

There were polite handshakes all around, and Kuze didn't seem too surprised that there was a woman partaking in the meeting. He must have been well-informed, she decided.

He got right down to business. The business was narcotics. The poppy was grown in Thailand, and shipped to Burma for production. If he wanted to, there was also a protected plant in Vietnam to convert it into morphine. Smuggling to both countries was safe. Entry into Japan would result in about a loss of five percent, but the profit was enormous and the risk virtually nonexistent.

Kuze finished and leaned back in his chair. He sneered at Kyouya, and took a bite of his orange. "Your turn, Kyouya-kun."

Kyouya did not rise to the jaunt. "Why do you come to me? What have I done to deserve this extremely generous offer?"

Kuze laughed, and Haruhi wondered why the two hated each other when they were so similar in so many ways. "I think you know the answer to that already, Ohtori. I need five hundred million yen in cash. That's right, cash. And I need a man who has many friends in powerful positions. I will admit it – you are the man I am looking for.

"Some of my couriers will be caught over the years. This cannot be avoided. I will promise, however, that they have clean records. Judges, therefore, will give light sentences.

"I need a friend who can guarantee that they will only spend a year or two in prison. Then they will not talk. But if it's longer, say ten or twenty years, then, who knows? There are many weak men in this world, Ohtori, and you and I are not one of them.

"But those…select few could jeopardize our entire business. And we would suffer for them. I need your legal protection, Ohtori, and as anyone knows, no one has more judges in his pocket than you."

"What is the percentage for my Group?" Kyouya asked, ignoring the compliment.

"Fifty percent." If it was possible, Haruhi thought, Kuze's eyes were gleaming. "In the first year, your share would be about six or seven hundred million yen. Then, it goes up."

Six or seven hundred MILLION yen?!

"So you're saying that I will receive fifty percent merely for finance and legal protection. I will play no in part in the operational end?"

"If you consider five hundred million yen to be 'merely finance,' Ohtori, then I have no choice but to salute you."

"I agreed to see you, Kuze, because we have known each other for many years. I know that you are a man to be respected," Kyouya said, "but my answer to you is no. It is true that the profits are huge, but so are the losses. Your operation may also harm my other interests should I decide to take part in it.

"And it is true that I have many friends in politics, but they would not be my friend should my business be narcotics, as opposed to liquor or gambling, which they think to be harmless vices, relatively speaking. To them, drugs are a dirty business."

"Ohtori…"

"No, I'm telling you what they think. It doesn't matter to me, Kuze, but I will say that this business of yours is too risky. My Group, along with the smaller groups in Tokyo, have lived peacefully for the last five years, and it wouldn't be worth it to put everyone in harm's way because of this."

The only sign of disappointment on Kuze's face was a flicker of emotion before it was replaced by a cold smile. He scanned the room as if hoping to see a sign of support. He found none.

He took another bite of orange, and to Haruhi, he looked seething.

Finally defeated, he bowed his head, and said, "Then, I will take my leave of you now, Ohtori."

Standing up, Kyouya shook Kuze's hand again. "My answer remains to be no, Kuze, but I wish the best of luck to you. I apologize for our conflicting interests."

Kuze bowed again, and he quickly scurried out of the room. Like a rat, Haruhi thought.

Once the room was quiet, Kyouya turned to Hikaru. "Good job."

Hikaru turned his head away and pouted for the rest of the day.


Kuze has been rejected, but what's his next move? If you're confused about anything so far, feel free to ask, and I'll try my best to answer your question. And I did research the information (as sordid as that may seem), so hopefully it seems plausible.

As a side note, I am currently looking for a beta. Please tell me if you happen to be interested.

Thanks for reading. Reviews are appreciated.