"We're being followed."
Haruhi blinked but knew better than to look over her shoulder.
"Followed?" she repeated in a low voice.
Kyouya nodded once. "Can you guess who?"
Her eyes widened as her mouth set into a grim line. "Rich bastards..." she hissed. "Why would they follow us?"
"I believe it may have something to do with doubts about my motives," Kyouya said thoughtfully. "Perhaps they don't trust me with your virtue."
Haruhi laughed dryly. "They shouldn't," she pointed out. "If I had a dollar for every pass you've made-"
"You'd have seventeen dollars," he said, placing an arm across her shoulders.
"Only seventeen?" she said in surprise. "It felt like more."
"Well, I'm sure the numbers will increase in the future."
"It won't change my mind, you know," she said indignantly.
"Haruhi, you should know by now that I love a challenge," he said, smiling cruelly.
"Well, I have a perfect challenge for you," she muttered. "Make them disappear." She jerked her head slightly backwards to indicate the small cluster of not-so-discreet young men. At the head was a tall, attractive blond dressed all in black with "disguising" sunglasses, muttering instructions to the others in an over-sized walkie-talkie.
Kyouya's smirk grew. "I can think of a way, but you'll have to play along."
xXx
"Hey, tono!" Hikaru and Kaoru whined in unison.
"What is it, you demon twins," Tamaki sighed angrily. "Can't you see I'm trying to watch over my darling daughter Haruhi?"
"You're not doing a very good job," Hikaru muttered.
Kaoru put in, "They just went down that alleyway."
Tamaki perked up with an expression of horror on his face. "Nooo! Father will not allow it!" he wailed, pounding across the pavement with unnatural speed, stirring up dust and drawing the attention of any passersby. The twins shrugged as one and took off after him while Mori walked steadily behind them, the tiny Hunny perched merrily on his shoulders squealing something about an ice cream vendor he had just seen.
xXx
Haruhi poked the seemingly lifeless body of Tamaki before glancing at Kyouya. "I didn't expect them to faint," she said.
"Yes, perhaps that was unexpected," he agreed, rolling one of the twins over with his foot, "but not entirely unpleasant."
"Um, Kyouya... about this..." Haruhi said, looking to him for assistance.
"Not to worry, Haruhi, I'll just make a few phone calls. Then perhaps we can continue-"
"Eighteen and not a chance," she said, quickly straightening and then stalking off in search of an ice cream vendor she had seen a little while ago.