OMG I am so sorry for the long wait guys. I feel really bad about this, but unfortunately I've been extremely busy with school and other activities. In addition to my service as the internal affairs director of my school's anime club, I recently was accepted into a study abroad program that will allow me to go to Mihama-cho, Joyo, Kyoto, and even Tokyo Japan this summer, so I am trying to complete everything so I am ready for that.

In addition, I am working as a staff member at a con that will be coming up in September (and hopefully I will be able to afford to be included in the artist alley).

I hope you all can forgive me. In addition, to continue keeping in practice I am editing some of the older chapters of this story, so if you one day get bored and reread this fanfic, you may notice a few changes that will hopefully make it better.

And now, here's the next chapter.

Chapter 7

"So, have I fallen down the rabbit hole into Wonderland?" a wide eyed customer asked.

Haruhi rolled her eyes, Alice in Wonderland Puns had gone around all night, which made sense with the hosts decked out in all manner of Alice in Wonderland apparel. Tamaki had decided on the theme given the popularity of the recent Tim Burton film release. However, instead of following Tim Burton's artistic direction with the costumes, Tamaki had decided on a series of costumes that looked like rejects from some glam goth music video or something.

Tamaki was the mad hatter, dressed in a black silk coat, trimmed with red, silky black slacks, shiny expensive black shoes with red laces, and a button down white shirt. He had an oversized black top with various cards sticking out from the rim. His make up for the night was gawdy and over done, thick black eyeliner had been drawn around his eyes and made them stand out from his pale skin. Two lines came under his right eye, stemming from the thick outline around her eye and curling around like an eyelash. He played the part of a madman perfectly, quoting the hatter's lines from the books and even adding his own to the mix, to the pleasure of all the girls in the club.

Kyouya was the Catepilar, done up in a similar style to Tamaki. He wore a silky deep blue coat trimmed with silver and lined on the inside with light blue. The tail of the coat was designed to resemble that of a catapilar, and it trailed behind him like a flowing cloud. hidden beneath the grand coat was a pair of near black slacks, and pasted onto his head were two antenna which had been made up to appear as if they were actually growing from his head. He had a little light blue make up spread upon his eyelids, making them almost glow in the light of the club, and in Haruhi's opinion it was the most captivating thing about the cosplay.

The twins were both dressed in Chessire cat costumes. This had been decided after a brutal arguement when Tamaki had voiced that maybe the twins should do something more like a gothic tweedle dee and tweedle dum. Such an idea had been deeply opposed by both the twins, and in the end they decided on matching Cheshire cat costumes done apart from the traditional pink and purple color scheme. The costumes consisted of tank tops, the underside of which was made to lok like the belly of a cat with lighter, near transparent white hair. apart from the underside, the tank tops were gray with greenish blue stripes, following a color scheme closer to the new movie which had come out. The bottoms were deep gray slacks, with lace up boots that came half way to the knee and were trimmed with white rabbit fur. Both twins wore cat ears, one wore a pair of gray cat wars and the other the same greenish blue as the stripes, and they continued to switch both these an the matching tails in a never ending game.

Hunny was the white rabbit, with a large gaudy golden pocket watch that he carried around, but must have had trouble reading with how to read the time on it because everytime a guest asked him, he would open the watch, stare at it a few seconds, and then give Mori a pleading look until the older man read the time. He wore a short, black coat trimmed in red, a white button down shirt with a large, cute black bow tie. On his head were a pair of, what looked like, oversized rabbit ears that occasionally flopped over and had to be righted by Mori.

Mori was, hysterically, the door mouse. His costume was a standard suit with a pair of large mouse ears and a tail. For awhile he had been wearing a fake nose, but it proved to me too much of a hassle and in the end was removed.

Finally, it had been decided, by a vote no less, that Haruhi would be Alice. She wore a light blue shirt and shorts combination with a frilly white apron over it. A large, black bow was on her head, and she wore a pair of black dress shoes with knee high frilly white socks. All evening she'd gotten compliments on the outfit, which was surprising because she had thought in such a cosutume she might as well have had a sign on her forehead saying "girl." However, she tried her best to play along, in her own way, and the evening seemed to go failry well.

As the night wore on, the ball became a popular topic again. Only two weeks away, many donors were trying desparately to catch the eye of a host for the possibility of being their escort. However, the hosts either were very clueless as to their intention, or very good at ignoring the girls. A few made passes at Haruhi, but since she was not of noble descent she would probably not attend and eventually, the girls settled for talking about things that had happened at past balls.

"Tamaki-san, do you think that they can beat the ball of 1998? I heard that year they had not only the band and whatnot that they usually commision for the dance but they also had a circus come in and there were fire breathers and acrobats," one of the patrons said, holding a cup of hot tea.

"Well, the ball of 2003 easily beat 1998. For that was the ball in which they had a Labrinth themed dance and part of the hall was made over into a beautiful lush green maze. They nearly lost half the attendees, and the gowns were much more exquisite than what they usually wear. It was so colorful, but I doubt this year will be anything too special," said Tamaki, brushing a few bangs back away from his face dramatically.

"What will you wear this year Tamaki-san?" another girl asked. Tamaki grinned.

"Why, I plan to wrap myself in the lightest, softest silk which will be a light blue, so as to better present my eyes," Tamaki began, and he continued to describe his outfit much to the pleasure of the crowd before him.

"Haruhi?" Lavender's voice called. Haruhi blinked, turned around, and saw Lavender dressed in a gosh Queen of Hearts costume. Apparently, Tamaki had talked her into participating.

"Yes?" Haruhi asked.

"I need you to come to the lab and talk with me, don't worry I'll ok everything with Kyouya," said Lavender. Haruhi blinked, nodded, and headed down to the lab as Lavender went to speak with Kyouya.

The lab was just the same as it had been when she was down there last. Haruhi walked around, Lavender would be down there soon right? Sure enough, just as she was checking out some poster on the wall dictating the use of some medical practice, Lavender walked into the room.

"Sorry to take you away, the twins are entertaining your customers," said Lavender.

"No problem, they're all just talking about the ball," said Haruhi.

"Ah, yes. The Masamune Ball, it's been going on for the last few centuries. It was only recently that I was allowed to attend, thanks to the reputation I have secured for myself," said Lavender.

"Really?" Haruhi asked.

"Yes, which is precisely why I asked you come here. I recently recieved my invitation, and it says I am entitled to bring one guest. I would like you to be that guest," Lavender said. Haruhi smiled nervously.

"Well, it's an honor, but everyone there's going to be a noble or something, right?" asked Haruhi. Lavender shrugged.

"I am not noble, there is no noble blood in me at all," said Lavender.

"Why do you want me?" asked Haruhi. Lavender smiled.

"Every year, every little bastard at the dance begins to attempt to court me. Tamaki and the others have offered me the service of escorting me, but their families are far less open to the idea. Well, actually the twin's family was alright with the idea, but the brothers got into a fight over who had to escort me and I ended up going alone that year as well," said Lavender.

"So, you want me because I have no family?" asked Haruhi. Lavender shook her head.

"No, I want you because you are my friend, and if one more cretin half my age attempts to bed me after a lukewarm chat and some champagne I will kill someone, and it will be someone imporant," said Lavender. Haruhi laughed a little, and was about to agree to the arrangement when a chilling idea entered her mind.

"Um, Lavender, if the guy who attacked me is a noble, won't he be there," asked Haruhi. Lavender's facce paled, and then she nodded.

"There is a good point there, but even if they recognize you I doubt that they would attempt to strike you at the ball. Too many people, all would easily testify if they saw someone in violation of the treaty," said Lavender.

"But...what if they do try to strike me?" asked Haruhi.

"Me, Tamaki, Kyouya, Hikaru, Kaoru, Hunny, and Mori will be there. At all times, we will ensure one of us is near you. Anyone who tries to hurt you, they'll be caught, and there will be justice," said Lavender.

Haruhi thought about this. She was confused, the real possibility of danger lingering in the back of her mind. She looked to Lavender.

"What would you do?" she asked. Lavender took a deep breath and looked into Haruhi's eyes.

"I would go, face my attacker. Show him I am not scared. Show him I will not go down without a fight. But, that is me, and I cannot tell you what to do. I would like you to go with me, but if you do not want to, I will respect that," said Lavender.

The sound of someone calling her from above attracted both Haruhi and Lavender's attention. Lavender smiled.

"Go upstairs, earn your keep. We'll talk later, okay?" she asked. Haruhi smiled and nodded. She was on her way when she paused, turned around, and met Lavender's eyes.

"I'll tell you my decision tonight," she promised, before returning to her customers.