A/N: Hey guys, I apologize about the delay in this chapter! It's been a long couple of months, and classes are hammering me (that's what you get for being a senior in college, you know). So, with no further ado, I present the tenth chapter in our lovely story, and I apologize in advance for any gross errors in spelling or grammar that might have occurred.

Disclaimer: Nothing owned, nothing earned. Entertainment purposes only. Thanks!

Htelobbihs: Chapter Ten

By: Rae

-An "Ouran High School Host Club" Fanfic-

"I don't understand how you believe you'll be able to help us," Eclair spat out angrily, glaring at Renge with no small amount of incredulity lingering in her eyes. "Even if you did liquidate, that makes you even more powerless than before. She'll crush your father and you."

Renge stared at her for a moment before asking, "Are you really that stupid? I did mention an alliance with another company, didn't I? What did you think I meant by that?"

"Oh, I'm sure you meant that you're hanging onto one of those ridiculous host club goons you insisted on moving to Japan to befriend," Eclair's voice dripped sarcasm as she rolled her eyes. "I mean, it's common knowledge that you easily fled France for Japan after that botched engagement."

Beppe put a cautious hand on Eclair's arm and shushed her, saying, "Stop it, Eclair. You're making this worse. Besides, you haven't given her a chance to explain." So saying, he leveled a serious gaze on the woman standing before them, her hands on her hips. "You would do well to speak quickly and get to the point. We've wasted enough time on you already."

Renge grinned in a completely triumphant manner that had the two lovers exchanging wary glances. "Just because you're my captors doesn't mean I'm at all inclined to explain everything to you," she informed them casually. "Besides, it's not as if you hold the winning hand in this game. You're merely the pawns, and unfortunately for you, the one holding the winning hand is not that foul woman who dragged us here for her perverse entertainment."

Eclair stood up, matching Renge's stance and spat back, "And you would do well to remember that you are not at liberty to leave this house. Or have you forgotten that you've no idea where you are and that poor, precious Haruhi doesn't have her memories?"

"No, I haven't forgotten that at all," Renge replied easily, leaning against the nearby wall. "And I'm sure Tamaki won't forget it either when he arrives." She smirked in satisfaction seeing the twin expressions of shock flit across her captors faces. Her satisfaction faltered slowly as the door slammed open.

"Tamaki is coming here?" Arianne asked, walking haltingly into the room, her hands clasped in front of her. "I'll see my Tama again?" She looked hopefully at Renge, who felt abashed at the joy she saw in the maid's eyes.

"Um..." Renge began awkwardly, suddenly realizing the power had shifted once again. This time, however, she knew what her captors did not and could still get things swiftly back under control.

"You will be sent back to the manor, Arianne," Eclair imperiously stated, glaring at the impertinent maid who dared to enter the room on their conversation. "I'm afraid you will not be seeing Tamaki if he manages to make it here."

Renge glared at the look on the other woman's face. "You would be wise to note that the host club is full of intelligent members who are out looking for Haruhi and myself as well as the others. Tamaki will be here soon, and you'll have to face up to your actions."

"That idiot Tamaki couldn't even figure out how he was tricked into almost coming back to France to see his mother again the first time," Eclair trilled out shrilly, her face twisted in a sneer. "I'm certain he couldn't find his way here if we were to literally send him a map with the manor marked out for him." Renge noted how the woman turned away from Arianne's hurt expression at her degrading comments about Tamaki.

"Why does that name sound so familiar?" A new voice entered the room, pausing all motion. They turned as one to see Haruhi enter the room, her eyes clouded over in memory. "Why can't I remember anything? Who am I?" Her voice rose in intensity as angry eyes focused on the room at large.

Renge gulped, wondering how to handle the suddenly angry friend she loved so much. Glancing around the room, she could tell the others, not as adept at dealing with Haruhi, were at a complete loss, and she choked back a giggle, sobering as Haruhi's angry gaze rested on her.

It was nearing midnight when Kasanoda and Reiko exited the Kasanoda car and walked sedately up to the Nekozawa beachside mansion. Reiko knocked on the door, and the two waited in silence for someone to answer. Kasanoda stood beside his slight classmate and noticed her shoulders slump as she leaned her weight on one leg. He realized how tired he was as he watched her yawn, and he was about to suggest she go back to the car and rest when light poured over them as the door opened.

"May I help--oh, Kanazuki-san, to what do we owe the pleasure of your visit?" The creepily attired butler asked, grinning an oily grin at his master's friend. He bowed briefly and ushered the two into the mansion.

Reiko smiled slightly as the butler and maid clucked at their appearances; they had always been the sweetest people she knew, even among her own circle of hired help. "Actually," she began, "we were wondering if you had seen Umehito recently."

The butler looked confused for a moment before answering carefully, "No, Kanazuki-san, we haven't. Actually, Nekozawa-sama sent Kurimi-san here last night after discovering his son's disappearance. We've come with her to make sure everything would be all right even though the master was told that his son was helping with a field trip. Is everything all right?"

By this time the two had been led into the nearest sitting room, and Kasanoda took the opportunity to ask Reiko a question, "If he's here, where would they have put him? You've been here before, right?"

Reiko nodded absently before a gleam appeared in her eyes. "Sano-san, has Kurimi visited the skull at all today?"

"Of course not," the maid interrupted the surly-faced butler to say, eyes widening in shock. "She's afraid of the dark; we would never take her to the skull."

Reiko smirked at that. "Of course," she said quickly. "I forgot momentarily. That's where Umehito is."

The butler and maid looked affronted as Sano interjected, "How could the master's son be here, Kanazuki-san? He went on a field trip, and he..."

"No," Kasanoda now said, "he didn't. He was kidnapped, and we're here to rescue him."

The two servants gasped, horrified at the very thought. "Could you get some flashlights and perhaps a knife?" Reiko asked quietly. "To cut through any ropes that might be holding him," she added when Sano-san gave her a strange look. The two nodded and walked out of the room, leaving Reko and Kasanoda alone. "Hopefully we'll be done soon and be able to get some rest."

Kasanoda nodded. "I'm sure they'll allow you to stay here tonight," he offered politely. His long day and night had caught up to him, and he was afraid he might fall asleep in the car on the way back home.

"You'll stay too, right?" Reiko asked, giving him a small smile. "I'm sure Umehito would want you to stay as well. After all, you are here to rescue him."

A flood of relief sent him slumping into his seat, and he grinned at her. No words were needed or even allowed as the two servants arrived back in the room with the required items. The two took a simultaneous breath and stood, following Sano-san out the door and through the back of the house to the back door. After exiting the mansion, Kasanoda found himself hit with a wave of sea air that invigorated him, and he followed the path the three ahead of him took, flashing his light here and there to see where he was.

They arrived, and Ritsu took a step back in shock. Reiko hadn't been kidding when she called this place the skull, and he was suddenly reminded painfully of the Black Magic Club and the very strange president they were entering this cave to find. Steeling himself, he followed the other three into the cave as they began calling for Nekozawa and shining their lights in all different directions.

Without stopping, Ritsu watched as the three ahead of him confidently stepped around a corner, and he jogged forward when he heard the simultaneous cries of Reiko and the maid. Rounding the corner, Kasanoda saw an almost unconscious Nekozawa being cut free from his bonds as he slowly awakened. Reiko hugged him closely when he finally looked alert enough to recognize the people around him.

"Oh Umehito, I'm so glad we found you!" Reiko's exclamation and familiarity with her friend caused Ritsu to raise a speculative eyebrow. He knew the girl was still actively dating Hunny-senpai, but when he was finally able to look at the two more closely, he realized the familiarity came of an old friendship.

Nekozawa took a moment to respond before saying, "What happened? Where are we, Reiko-san?" Kasanoda noted the closed glance he received from his former classmate before turning back to his childhood friend.

"We are at the summer manor, master," Sano-san interjected, bowing slightly when his surprised charge glanced at him. "Your friends tell me you were kidnapped."

They all saw the moment the memory rushed back to him as Nekozawa shook his head. "Oh, yes," he said dumbly, eyes searching, "we were kidnapped, weren't we? We were having lunch..."

"That's right, Umehito," Reiko replied, smiling at him calmly. "If you can stand, we'll go back to the manor for some tea and discuss all that's been happening. Though I would suggest that you go to bed; you aren't looking so good."

Nekozawa ignored the suggestion as he scrambled to his feet, swaying slightly before righting himself. "Why are you here, Kasanoda-san?" The question was asked in a neutral tone, and Kasanoda could see that Nekozawa remembered his being a part of the group in the dirty prison.

"My men rescued Reiko-san and me when were still at that nasty house," he drawled in reply. "They weren't able to find you after the men took you away, but after we interrogated them a bit, Reiko was able to figure out where you were being held. Everyone else has already been rescued," he added when it appeared Nekozawa wanted to ask a question.

A beat passed as the group exchanged glances. Then it occurred to Kasanoda to explain further, "Actually, that's not entirely true. They haven't found Hoshakuji-san or Haruhi yet, but I'm sure they will with Tamaki on the loose." He chuckled at the thought of an unbridled blonde running the streets, sniffing for signs of Haruhi.

Nekozawa's eyes widened, and he said, "They kidnapped Haruhi as well? And the host club is looking for her?" Kasanoda nodded, feeling surprise at Nekozawa's innate knowledge that the host club was in on the search. "Where is Hunny-senpai?" He turned to Reiko for an answer.

"He's with the rest of the group at the hospital," she supplied when Ritsu remained silent. "They're working on finding out where Haruhi and Renge are, but they had to go to the hospital with Ayanokoji-senpai when she became ill."

A pale, thin hand came to rest on Nekozawa's cheek as a strange light entered his eyes. "Ayanokoji-senpai? How interesting. I'm amazed that she would go as far as all this."

"Who? What do you know, Nekozawa-senpai?" Kasanoda's angry voice crashed into the musing young man's thoughts, but he was prevented from answering when he suddenly swooned, falling into a dead faint, to the shock of all in the cave.

"Umehito? Umehito!" Reiko knelt down and shook her friend, trying to wake him. She jerked away from him a moment later and picked up her flashlight in surprise, shining it on the palm of her left hand. The light revealed a massive amount of blood. Her eyes widened, and she jumped up in shock, shivering and shaking.

Seeing this, Kasanoda took command. "Pick him up," he ordered Sano-san while carefully lifting a still shivering Reiko into his arms. He waited until Sano had done as commanded before turning to the maid. "Call a family doctor. We need to keep this quiet or else something could happen to Renge and Haruhi. Hurry now; we need to get them back to the house."

The three walked carefully down the path, trying not to disturb their two burdens as they went. Three hours and one disgruntled doctor later, Kasanoda climbed into a guest bed at the Nekozawa mansion, pulling the covers over his tired head. The idiot captors had dropped Nekozawa's unconscious body on a particularly sharp rock when they left him in the skull cave, and he was steadily losing blood. The doctor had been able to stop the bleeding and make him more comfortable, and Nekozawa was sleeping. For Reiko, the doctor prescribed a small amount of sedatives, which she had gratefully taken and gone straight to bed.

Kasanoda flipped off the lamp next to the bed, hoping tomorrow he could get answers. It appeared Reiko and Nekozawa knew more about what was going on than they were willing to share, but Ritsu knew ways of coercing information out of people. And he wasn't going to let the recalcitrant Black Magic Club members get the better of him. His eyes slowly closed as visions of beating the moronic kidnappers danced in his head.

"You obviously know something you're not telling me, and Arianne says you won't tell her anything either," Haruhi's cold voice closed in on Renge, and she paled slightly at the accusation. "I don't understand; I feel like you're my only real friend here, but you haven't said a word."

"Haru--er-- Emilia," Renge spat out the hated name, wanting to rip her own tongue out. She opened her mouth to continue but was interrupted.

"That is not my name," Haruhi said pointedly, causing both Beppe and Eclair to blanche, something that did not escape the intelligent girl's notice. "You've been lying to me from the beginning. I know a liar when I see one, and you haven't been able to produce a single bit of history for me to confirm that I am this Emilia you insist on calling me. Either tell me who I am or don't call me anything at all." Her ire growing, Haruhi's eyes flashed in fury that scared her captors and Arianne. Renge, however, was emboldened by this change.

"You are Fujioka Haruhi, from Japan," Renge responded, daring the others to comment as she glared at them. "These people have kidnapped both of us on the orders of some insane old bat who wants to keep you from your true love."

Haruhi's eyes clouded over, but the puzzled expression on her face almost stopped Renge from continuing. "I was, however, just telling them how they can help us help them get out of the old bat's clutches. I just need to get into contact with a good friend and..."

"No!" The shout scared Renge for a moment as she jumped and looked at Ecliar. "You will not be contacting anyone. I don't care what you think you can do; it's not going to happen! She'll find out, and we'll be screwed. Absolutely not!" The shrill note in her voice belied her panic as Beppe put a soothing hand on her shoulder, trying to calm his lover.

Renge shook her head pityingly as she replied, "Unfortunately for you, it won't take them long to figure out what's going on. How much information do you have on their current progress anyway? I'm sure the old bat hasn't given you all the information she has." She paused when Beppe's eyes narrowed slightly, confirming her suspicion that they were relying on the woman to give them information. "Besides, I can get you the support of three families. I won't guarantee support from the other members of the host club, but I can get you my father's support as well as that of the Suou and Ootori families." She glared when Eclair choked out a strangled laugh, eyes wild.

"You've really lost it, haven't you?" The witch cackled, smirking at Renge. She noticed that Arianne and Haruhi took uncertain steps back and steeled herself, setting her shoulders and refusing to be intimidated. "You have no way to ensure either of those families would support us, and your own father is penniless now! What happened when they kidnapped you? Did they drop you on your head?" She taunted Renge with a sinister smirk and chuckle that Renge hated.

"No, actually," she replied somewhat calmly, taking deep breaths, "but you wouldn't know much about liquidation, now would you, Eclair? I suppose I should tell you the truth. My father liquidated into another company and gained a protective alliance. He liquidated into KO Industries, and the owner of the company has promised to keep him instated as the head of our company once this mess about the economy clears up."

Renge saw it the moment Eclair registered what was said. The crazy look left her eyes as the color left her skin, and the woman slumped into her chair miserably. "KO Industries?" She asked weakly. Renge nodded. "Perhaps we can help you after all then."

"I was hoping you would say that," Renge beamed at Eclair even as Beppe stared incredulously at his lover and captive. "I would suggest that we all sit down and discuss this because I've put quite a bit of thought into how we can work things out most advantageously to all of us." Gesturing to Haruhi and Arianne, she beckoned them to the two empty chairs as Beppe and Eclair resumed their prior seating arrangement.

The three stared at each other in silence for a minute before Renge sighed and began to speak. "First of all, you are going to have to let me be in contact with the host club," she said, looking pointedly at Beppe and Eclair. "This won't work if I can't give them the information they need to outmaneuver the old bat. So unless you're willing to let me contact them..."

"Fine, fine," Beppe said, nearly growling the answer. His eyes flashed as he said, "But this had better work. If I find you've screwed us over just to get out of here, I will find a way to get my revenge."

Renge grinned happily and responded, "Don't worry; I know what I'm doing. Now you're going to have to feed her some false information, and I believe I can get the host club here within the week to rescue Haruhi and me. You all won't face charges as long as you cooperate with me and the hosts. They'll want all the information you can give about the kidnappings."

Eclair and Beppe exchanged a glance before Eclair said, "All right. We can do that. But you have to assure us that we won't have to face any kind of prosecution and no harm will come to our families. I'd like to keep this as quiet as possible."

Renge nodded enthusiastically. "Trust me," she said, winking, "I'm sure the hosts will agree to keeping this quiet as well. There are multiple reasons they would want to keep it quiet anyway, not to mention the old bat's reasons."

"What about me?" Haruhi's quiet voice asked, startling the three scheming in the middle of the room. Arianne was sitting next to the girl, eyes alert but silent, and Renge noticed that Haruhi's calm was tremulous, easily the most volatile thing in the room at the moment. "What about my memories? My life? My past?"

"We'll try to help you put the pieces together, Haruhi," Renge said, making a decision to call her friend by her true name.

Before she could continue explaining her plans, however, Beppe spoke up. "We can't do that," he said, noting her scowl. "She would find out from the maids within days. We would be in jail before the hosts could get here, and you two would be locked up somewhere else with someone who wouldn't be as keen to help you out."

Arianne nodded her support. "That's true," she said. "According to Rhoda in the kitchens, the maids are supposed to spy on you all at all times. You're constantly being watched unless you go somewhere the maids don't know about... which isn't likely."

Renge looked horrified as the implications of this settled in. "It's okay, Miss Renge," Arianne said, smiling. "I offered to take watch during times that seemed to be more... suspicious. Of course, they don't know this, and I haven't reported anything that needed to be kept quiet." Looking at Beppe and Eclair, she added, "For you as well."

"Well," Beppe remarked, narrowing his eyes, "I wonder how we can help get ourselves out of this situation if we're constantly being spied upon..."

"I have an idea," Haruhi volunteered, three pair of curious eyes upon her. The gleam in her eyes was similar to one that Renge had seen when Haruhi got the twins back for tricking her in school or when she was calculating what gains Kyouya might get out of a situation. Seeing it, Renge smirked; this would be good.

"You spoke to Renge?!"

"Where are they?"

"What is going on, Kyouya?"

"How could you speak to Renge?!"

"Haruhi's alive?!"

The outburst nearly drove Kyouya back against the wall, but he stood tall, determined not to let his friends' anger get the best of the situation. The last comment, coming from Tamaki, seemed to be the only thing that the blond could comprehend before he passed out. Both Ranka-san and Yuzuru caught him before he hit the floor and laid him carefully on the now empty bed.

Looking at his friend, Kyouya recognized the signs of shock and exhaustion and made a swift decision. "We cannot go to Haruhi now," he told them, holding a hand up to ward off any protests, "but I will set up a flight to leave tomorrow afternoon, and we should be there by the following morning. It won't be long now."

Hikaru started in on his former classmate. "What are you going to do now, Kyouya? You've left us in the dark this long, and now you're just suddenly going to let us go to Haruhi, just like that?" His eyes flashed in anger, and the implication was clear as the room suddenly seemed to grow cold.

Anger of his own flared in Kyouya, and he could not hold back from the tongue lashing his insolent friend deserved. "If I knew where Renge was, don't you think I would have gone to her from the beginning, screw the consequences?! This isn't a game you foolish twit; I have things of my own riding on this, and you are making it impossible for me to make preparations to get back what is ours." The irate tone of voice lowered to the deepest level Hikaru had ever heard it, and Kyouya's eyes fastened on him, narrowed and almost black in their intensity.

"I believe we need to take the night to rest and recuperate," Hunny authoritatively said, gathering strength from his cousin who nodded in agreement. "Everyone should go home and..."

"I'm staying here," Kaoru interjected, eyes narrowed at anyone who might interfere. "I'm going to make sure she's all right." He glared at Kyouya, daring him to contradict the younger twin's words.

Kyouya nodded slightly and said, "You can remain in here, and you will not be disturbed. Or you can move to a room closer to Ayanokoji-san's."

The two glared at one another as Hunny continued, "Everyone else should go home and get some rest. We can meet back up tomorrow morning to discuss our plans and what we need to take with us to rescue Haruhi and Renge."

After some discussion, Hikaru was persuaded, mainly by his brother and the cousins, to go home and get some much needed rest while Kaoru stayed with Hideyo. Yuzuru offered to take Ranka and Tamaki home as well as Toru and Kanako, who were told they were not needed if they would like to simply enjoy themselves. Kaoru promised to keep them informed about what happened, but the two expressed an interest in helping and agreed to meet back up the following morning.

The cousins planned to head to their respective homes and were going to meet up with Kasanoda and Reiko early in the morning before meeting with their friends. Kyouya explained that he would book his flight to leave mid-afternoon so everyone could have enough time to prepare.

Yuzuru took Ranka to his apartment, promising to pick him up at 9 a.m. to meet the group and then took a still unconscious Tamaki home. The maids took him directly to his room to fuss over him while Yuzuru left for the main house.

Hand on his cell, Yuzuru paced his small study, wondering if he should make the call. Finally deciding it would be better to do it now when he had the chance than to hope he would find the time to do it later, he punched the speed dial for a man he'd known almost twenty years.

"Honda," the clipped voice sounded over the phone, and Yuzuru sighed in relief.

"Honda-san," he began, no greeting required, "I need to speak with you. Are you busy?"

"I'm just leaving the office, Suou," the brusque reply greeted his ears. "What can I do for you?"

"Can we meet in the usual place? Twenty minutes? And can you bring it?" Yuzuru's voice pitched slightly higher as he asked the last question. He held his breath, knowing his friend would understand.

"You're serious?" Honda's voice was tinged with a bit of awe. "But you said you wouldn't do it til..."

"I know that, Honda, but I have no choice," Yuzuru interrupted. "If I don't do it now, everything will be cut off, and I won't be able to do it later. Haruhi's been kidnapped."

A loud whistle pierced the silence of the study, and Yuzuru pulled the phone away from his ear. "Dang. I never knew she had it in her. Well, I'll be there. Are you sure, Yuzuru?"

Nodding his head to affirm his choice to himself, Yuzuru replied, "Yes, Honda, I am. I'll see you there." He hung up before he could talk himself out of it. Going to his desk, he pulled out his official seal as well as the necessary documents and grabbed his coat before calling for his driver.

Two hours later, a haggard-looking Yuzuru stepped back into the main house, looking for all the world like he was going to collapse. But the spark was back in his eyes as he marched resolutely up the stairs and flung himself into bed. He knew it was only a matter of time now before the fireworks began, but he wasn't going to simply let everyone walk over him this time around.

A/N: I know this was much shorter than my other chapters, and for that I apologize, but I still hope you enjoyed it! I tried to keep as much of the mystery up as possible, but I'm not sure that's going to last very long. Can you guess what Yuzuru has done? It's all falling into place, and I can't wait to unveil the answer to the mystery! I will respond to the reviews I've received, and I thank you for keeping me going with your reviews! Let me know what you thought, and I'll try to get the next chapter out in a more timely manner! Thanks everyone!

Until next time...

-Rae-

P.S. I tried to insert lines instead of doing the usual dashes/dots thing to break up the parts of the chapter, so if it all blends together, I apologize and will fix it later!