Chapter 7

Operation: Win Haruhi's Heart! Part 1

The competition was on. Nadeshiko and Barako were quite excited to see the show get on the road. They were so excited that they even began to eat popcorn eagerly in the Chemistry Prep Room. Although it was Hikaru who displayed the most determination and zeal for winning Haruhi's heart, the Kuronuma sisters knew that Kaoru and Tamaki both wanted to win just as bad. It was just that…Kaoru and Tamaki were acting a lot more mature over the entire thing. The competition was on every afternoon when there weren't any customers in the Third Music Room. Kyoya was hardly bored whenever the boys were trying to win Haruhi's heart.

Hikaru grew to become more determined to make Haruhi his. It was hard to get Haruhi's attention when his brother and Tamaki were also competing for it. He would have to do something drastic.

(- -)

"Haruhi!" Hikaru cried out.

Haruhi turned around and smiled at him.

(No one really paid attention that Haruhi's new behavior just wasn't her.)

"What do you need, Hikaru?" she asked passively.

"I was wondering if you want to go to the beach with me!" Hikaru answered excitedly.

"What? Now?" Haruhi asked.

"Sure!"

"Are we going back to Nekozawa's private beach?"

"No. I was thinking more of somewhere else."

(- -)

"This is the place?" Haruhi cried out. She gaped at the private beach she was on. To be precise, it was the Hitachiins' private beach…in Spain.

"You should be grateful for being here, Haruhi." Hikaru said smugly. "Not only are you here alone with me, I went through hell to dupe Kyoya the way Nanami does."

"The beach is nice and all, but you just took me out of the country. Illegally. Kyoya is going to murder you and me." Haruhi answered innocently.

"I will make sure Kyoya doesn't take you back to Japan. " Hikaru answered. He cupped Haruhi's chin. "You will be staying here with me."

"This vacation was so sudden that I didn't even get to pack anything…" Haruhi answered, moving away from Hikaru.

"No worries. I packed up some of my mom's sample clothing as well as a bathing suit." Hikaru replied. She snapped his fingers and two maids came out with a mannequin. It was a lovely two-piece swimsuit carefully designed with frills.

Haruhi eyed it carefully before raising her eyebrow at Hikaru.

"Uh, no."

"Why not?" Hikaru demanded.

"I don't want to parade in that!"

"Why not?" Hikaru repeated. "If you don't give me a valid reason, I default you to a penalty game!"

"Forget it. I'm not going to play a penalty game."

"Yeah, Hikaru. No games." A voice retorted. Haruhi and Hikaru turned to find Kaoru standing a short distance away from them.

"Damn. How did you find me?" Hikaru asked crossly.

"Kyoya." Kaoru jerked his head behind him. Kyoya was sitting in a chair, wearing a tropical shirt, and drinking a glass of iced tea. When he caught Haruhi and Hikaru's eye, he tipped the glass to them with a humorous grin before taking a swig of it. There was something about it that sent chills down Haruhi's spine.

"This isn't my fault." Haruhi said quickly.

"You're right, it isn't." Kaoru agreed. "It is Hikaru's fault for taking you out of Japan illegally."

He grabbed the commoner by the arm and pulled her to his side. He then pushed her towards Kyoya. Haruhi hesitantly walked over to him.

"You do realize the consequences of leaving the country illegally, right Haruhi?" Kyoya asked with a devilish grin.

"Yes." Kyoya was the last person she ever wanted to talk to.

"Kaoru begged me to spare you from severe punishment. You should be lucky I wasn't in a foul mood because of my fiancée.

"But as my own form of punishment, I'm adding the cost of your flight from here to Japan to your debt." Kyoya answered. He grinned at her. "I hope you don't have any objections."

"N-no, of course not." Haruhi answered. Actually I do have objections, she thought angrily.

"Then let us go." He glanced at his watch. "If we hurry, we can make the next flight in an hour."

The twins watched Kyoya escort Haruhi away. When they were out of sight, the twins resumed their argument.

"What do you think you are doing?" Hikaru asked angrily.

"What do you think you are doing?" Kaoru countered. "It isn't fair that you take Haruhi away in order to win her heart! Tamaki and I should be able to have equal chances with fight for her heart!"

"Are you that mad that I thought of this before you?" The older twin said smugly.

"No. I'm only mad that you would resort to such backstabbing tactics to get what you want." Kaoru countered. "You really are like a child."

He turned his heel and stalked off.

This is what love can do to friendships. But, after the potion wear wears off, will there even be a friendship anymore?

(- -)

"Can I open my eyes yet?" Haruhi asked.

"No, not yet." Kaoru replied.

He pulled Haruhi along by the hand until he found an appropriate spot.

"Okay, you can look now."

Haruhi opened her eyes to see she a Kaoru were on the bank of a river and the entire place was swarming with fireflies. The moon was full tonight and it beamed down with its mysterious glow. The scene was absolutely breathtaking.

"Oh, it's pretty." The girl replied with a smile.

"Come on and sit down." Kaoru answered. He sat down along the bank. Haruhi joined him. "You don't need to be taken out of the country to see something beautiful." He commented.

"Yes, you're right."

Kaoru gazed affectionately at Haruhi. Slowly, he leaned in, closer and closer to her face…

"Hold it right there!" Tamaki yelled.

Tamaki came bounding over out of nowhere and snatched Haruhi away from Kaoru.

"No kissing! That isn't fair!" He yelled.

"What? It totally is fair!" Kaoru protested.

"Physical contact should only be made after becoming official!" Tamaki whined.

"Tamaki and Kaoru's squabble completely ruined the mood." Haruhi mumbled. "I'm going home."

(- -)

"An interesting turn, this is." Barako commented.

"Yes, I agree." Nadeshiko concurred.

"It is a shame the author will have to leave Tamaki's time alone with Haruhi until chapter nine."

"Yes, yes. Chapter nine will also include who Haruhi decides to be with."

"Of course, the next chapter will about Kyoya and Nanami."

"Girls, you aren't helping!" the author yelled from a corner.

"Oh, look. Here comes the author." Nadeshiko pointed out.

"She doesn't look happy." Barako commented. "We should get out of here."

"Good idea!"

The Kuronuma twins ran off. The author stepped in front of the camera with a grin.

"Hey everyone! I've decided to do something new today with my little notes, and I will break the fourth wall to say what I need to say!" The author replied. "I apologize for not updating this story for a while. It has been pretty crazy lately. I finally am on my summer vacation, and I am EXHAUSTED! But now that I have free time, I will be writing a lot more.

"I was also delayed in updating because I had a bit of a writer's block. Thanks go out to my friend Chantalle for putting the ideas back into my head. The fireflies on a moonlit night scene was inspired from the We Love Katamari firefly stage. Anyway, I'm saying (or more like, I'm writing) this at one in the morning and I'm tired and a little hungry. I think it is time for a snack and bed. I will start up on the next chapter as soon as possible. I promise. Thank you for reading!"