Yo! Tis Tsuki. I'm glad I've got this chapter finished, it took me forever ;-; I have to thank everyone for the wonderful reviews, they're what have kept me going this far! I'm glad you all like the story this far, and although I'm aware that the previous chapter wasn't the best, I'm sure this one will be at least a bit more enjoyable, if you don't fall asleep while reading it xD Enjoy!

It was soon known throughout Ouran Academy that Tamaki Suoh's date for the upcoming annual Ouran ball was none other than the quick-tempered, stubborn, clever, foul-mouthed, cynical, unladylike, athletic, and attractive Nayami Kawadoko. She was fully aware of the wildfire rumors flying around the school (including love letters, arranged marriages, romantic moonlit strolls, and childhood acquaintances), but didn't particularly care to put an end to them. Besides, they were usually a good source of entertainment.

On one particularly balmy fall afternoon, after school hours and during Host Club hours, Nayami received a call on her cell phone right as she walked outside the main building. She jumped and nearly dropped the small stack of textbooks that she was holding when her high-pitched ringtone (the Hamtaro theme song) rang out across the courtyard, causing many heads to briefly turn her way. Cursing, she reached into her bag and withdrew the phone, opening it up and pressing it to her ear.

"Hello?" she asked into the air. She was silent for a moment, but then smiled. "Oh, hi Kyo."

Unfortunately, at that moment the Hitachiin twins were passing through the courtyard to report for Host Club duties and overheard the hyperactive theme song echo though the courtyard. Seeing that it was Nayami who answered it, the brothers hid behind a nearby pillar, attracting stares from passerby while trying not to eavesdrop the conversation in vain.

"Wait…" she said, unaware that they were right behind her. Then again, they were hiding. "Oh yeah, that's right! I forgot you didn't have to work tonight. At least you can help me finish that essay that's due tomorrow…and no, that doesn't mean write it for me, Kyo…"

The twins looked at each other.

"Did she say 'Kyo'…?" Hikaru mouthed, a horrified expression creeping across his face.

Kaoru nodded back, gulping nervously. "Milord won't be pleased," he said in a strangled whisper that was barely audible.

Meanwhile in the Third Music Room, Tamaki sat on his armchair that temporarily served as a throne, daydreaming about his encounter with Nayami during his piano practice. Somehow, he had convinced himself that he vividly recalled how Nayami had gracefully fainted into his arms upon seeing him. Obviously, his "Inner Mind Theatre" had been reeling ever since he had heard Nayami sing.

Just then Hikaru and Kaoru burst into the room.

"Milord!" Hikaru yelled. "Milord!"

Kyouya looked up from his notebook of financial records. "Oh, there you two are. Please be considerate of Tamaki, he's not exactly in a state of communication yet." Sure enough, someone (probably Hunny, judging from the handwriting and flowery border) had slung a "Do Not Disturb" sign around Tamaki's neck as he sighed happily into space.

Nevertheless, Hikaru ran up to the King and took hold of his shoulders. "Milord! It's about Nayami!" Tamaki apparently hadn't heard him and kept on mentally plucking flower petals. Hikaru growled angrily and started shaking Tamaki by the shoulders, the blonde's head flopping back and forth like a rag doll while Hikaru repeated himself, louder this time. "Milord!"

Kaoru also sighed in an exasperated way and looked at the ceiling, obviously thinking, "Do I have to do this?" Apparently he did, so he called out, "Milord! It's about Nayami-hime!"

At these words Tamaki sprang out of his chair as if shocked. His face turned slowly toward the younger twin, his blissful expression replaced by one of utter horror. Without warning, he flung himself foreword and grabbed Kaoru's shoulders.

"What about Hime?" he demanded furiously, appearing almost frightening. "Is she in trouble? Do we need to save her from the clutches of Death himself?"

"N-no, Milord—"

At that moment, a corner of the room seemed to darken, and the light fixtures flickered ominously. A low, spine-chilling chuckle resonated throughout the room as a black door in the opposite wall appeared out of nowhere and opened slightly with a loud, echoing creak. Tamaki released Kaoru and jumped back in horror, letting out an incredibly loud gasp.

The chuckling continued, growing in volume as the door creaked open until the gap was wide enough for a cloaked figure to creep into the third music room, his cat-shaped puppet rubbing its small, pointed paws together in excitement.

"Did you hear that, Beelzenef?" the cloaked figure said quietly to his puppet, a sinister grin plastered onto his face. "It seems as if the Host Club will need assistance, given their small amount of experience in these delicate areas concerning the dead." The puppet nodded in agreement.

"Wh-what do you want, Nekozawa?" Tamaki stammered from behind a chair.

"I couldn't help but overhear your conversation, and it seems like you want somebody to be saved from the evil spirits of death and destruction. We, the Black Magic Club, can—"

Just then, the main door opened, interrupting Nekozawa's monologue, and Haruhi ran into the room.

"Sorry I'm late," she panted once she reached the others. "I had to—what's Nekozawa-senpai doing here?"

Hikaru found his voice. "He was just leaving!" he exclaimed as he and Kaoru each whipped out a flashlight and brandished the bright beams in Nekozawa's direction. The cloaked student shrieked in terror and scurried about the room like a cockroach before slamming the large door to the Black Magic Club's lair shut behind him.

"What…was that about?" Haruhi asked, breaking the stunned silence that followed the door's bang.

"What, indeed…" Kyouya said, returning to his black notebook. "Oh yes, Kaoru, Hikaru. Didn't you have to inform Tamaki of something important?"

"Right," Hikaru replied. "Well, Tono…"

"It seems as if Nayami's been getting phone calls from an unknown male named Kyo," Kaoru finished quickly.

A stunned silence followed. But then Haruhi said, "I don't think it's anything to get all worked up about."

"Buy, my daughter!" Tamaki exclaimed, horrified. "What do you mean, 'it's not anything to get worked up about?' For all we know--"

"For all we know," Kyouya cut in, "it could have been--"

"What could it have been?" Kaoru interrupted. "If it was a wrong call or something, why would she smile when she answered it, call the caller by his first name, and start talking about doing homework?!"

Tamaki's jaw dropped as Haruhi said, "I just don't know. Nayami doesn't come across as the sort of person who would ask a boyfriend or something for homework help in my opinion, though."

"There's only one thing to do," Tamaki said gravely, his demeanor changing instantly. "We must close the Host Club for this afternoon only and solve this mystery of the unknown caller! Where are Hunny and Mori?"

Kyouya snapped the notebook shut. "If you must know, they said that they would be coming late again this afternoon because of Kendo. And although I have absolutely no interest in participating in this foolish plot of yours, it seems as if I have no choice but to come along."

Haruhi rolled her eyes, unable to shake off the feeling of impending doom.

Once Hunny and Mori had arrived, the Host Club set off at once. It was only when Tamaki had led the Host Club down the front steps did he pause in his steps, his index finger in the air dramatically and the heroic smile sliding off his face.

"What's the matter, Tama-chan?" Hunny inquired, clinging to Usa-chan.

"Let me guess," Haruhi said, "You have no idea where to go, do you?"

Tamaki slowly turned around to face the group, his shoulders slumping.

"I take that as a no," Haruhi muttered.

"Well," Kaoru said, thinking back to earlier that afternoon, "It did sound like she was going straight back home after school from what she said in the conversation."

Tamaki's jaw dropped open in horror at the idea of Nayami meeting with male strangers at her own home, but Haruhi asked, "And where would that be…exactly?"

Kyouya pushed his glasses higher onto his nose. "I knew I had to come along for a reason. Leave all those details to me."

"Kyo, I'm home," Nayami called through the apartment as she walked through the door.

"Hey, you want me to start on dinner soon?" Kyo asked from the living room, flipping the pages of a novel.

"That's all right. I've gotta start on my homework, but I'll let you know when I'm hungry."

"Okay," Kyo called back as Nayami disappeared into her bedroom upstairs.

About fifteen minutes later, someone's hand began rapping on the front door in a frenzied manner.

"All right, all right, I'm coming," Kyo shouted, slamming the book down and striding toward the door.

Tamaki stopped knocking at the sound of approaching footsteps.

"Now, remember the battle plan?" he whispered to the rest of the host club as he rubbed his palms together excitedly.

"Milord, what battle plan?" Hikaru asked in a bored tone.

Before Tamaki could answer, the door opened to reveal a young man, about as tall as Mori, with unruly brown hair. He wore an oversized t-shirt and faded jeans, and looked thoroughly annoyed at being disturbed while reading.

He surveyed the group outside the door before demanding, "What do you guys want?"

Tamaki stuttered, at a loss to reply, but Kyouya jumped in.

"Is this the residence of a Kawadoko Nayami-san?" he inquired politely.

The brown-haired youth studied the six students once more before nodding.

"Yeah. Hold on a sec. Nayami!" he shouted. "There's some more guys here to see you!"

Tamaki's expression was nothing short of aghast at the concept that his beloved Hime was even more popular at her old school than he thought. But then her voice faintly rang out.

"Hold on!" she yelled back. "I'm busy!"

Kyo rolled his eyes. "Get down here!" he bellowed. "Show some courtesy to your guests!"

"I don't care who it is, Kyo!" she replied angrily. "I'm not going out with them!"

Kyo turned back to the Host Club. "I'll be right back," he said before disappearing into the apartment. The hosts peeked in to see a fairly roomy, clean space. They caught a glimpse of a neat living room and a staircase leading upstairs before they heard the argument that was taking place just out of view.

"Kyo! Get out of my room!"

"Just go down there!"

"I will not!"

"I'll drag you out of here if necessary!"

SLAM.

"Hey, Nayami! Don't you start chucking your book bag at me!"

"I can if I want."

"Shut up. I won't leave you alone until--"

BAM.

"AAARRRRGGGHH THAT WAS MY EYE!"

"Serves you right."

"GODDAMMIT NAYAMI! GET YOUR STUBBORN ASS DOWN THERE!"

"FINE!"

The host club stood in stunned silence as the sound of Nayami stomping feet reached their ears. She wrenched the door open and her livid expression vanished instantly upon seeing them, although her cheeks were still flushed from yelling. She was still in her uniform, minus the tie and blue jacket, and the white long-sleeved shirt was unbuttoned to reveal the white tank top she wore underneath.

"Oh, hello," she said calmly as if nothing had happened. "I wasn't expecting to see you people here."

Tamaki, who by this time had now somewhat recovered, flung himself at her with outstretched arms.

"HIME!!!!" he exclaimed, throwing his arms around her neck. "Are you all right? You didn't have to exchange blows with that strange man yourself, we would have fought to the death so save you!"

"We would have?" Haruhi asked incredulously.

Nayami looked at Tamaki, as well as the rest of the host club, in amused disbelief.

"That wouldn't have been necessary," she said, trying to fight back laughter as she gently shoved Tamaki away. "You see, Kyo, that 'strange man', is my older brother."

"Y-you have an older brother…?" Tamaki stammered, dumbstruck once again.

"What, you didn't know?" Nayami asked. "I thought I told you all."

"Nope!" Hunny replied.

"You didn't," Mori agreed.

"Oh. Well now you know," she said as Kyo walked down the stairs with a hand over the right side of his face; a spectacular black eye was visible through his fingers.

Well, now we know Kyo. Bad tempers seem to run in the family... xD And don't worry, the afternoon at the Kawadoko household will continue in the next chapter! And you'll find out more about Nayami's home life! -gasp- I'll try to update soon!