It was strange, Haruhi thought as she kept one eye on her senpai and the other on her guests. He appeared as impassive as ever, but there were definitely stress lines crinkling the corners of his mouth. She couldn't see his eyes and was certain that she didn't want to either.

Honey and Mori had been greeting the incoming ladies, Hikaru and Kaoru weren't creating extra trouble, and even Tamaki had reined in his energy around the shadow king. But for all their attempts to help, Kyoya appeared to be getting more and more frustrated.

Yes, frustrated. As strange as it sounded, the Ootori heir was losing the battle with frustration to the point that it was becoming visible on his face. Haruhi was glad that the laptop was bearing the brunt of his focus. She was even happier when the club time ended and she could go home. She did not want Kyoya's mood to translate into an increase in debt for her.

Kaoru passed her one of her textbooks. "Kyoya-senpai seems a bit stressed today."

"Want to come home with us, Haruhi?" Hikaru was mentally measuring the distance between them and the door.

"Haruhi," a voice sang out. All three cringed. "Are you done your chores?"

"Yes, Tamaki-senpai, everything's done."

"Kyo-chan." Honey's voice distracted them. They watched the senior brave the dark atmosphere around Kyoya to place a plate of cake on his table. "It's a lime and cream cake; I think that you'll like it." Kyoya's response was too low to hear, but it pleased Honey because he cheerfully bounced back to Mori and wished everyone else a good night as he left on his cousin's shoulders.

"Hikaru, Kaoru, why don't you take Haruhi home?" Haruhi jerked, not just because of the oddity of Tamaki's request, but was there a low rumble of thunder just now?

"Sure, boss." The twins looked nervously over at the vice-president.

"Um, Tamaki-senpai?"

"Try not to die." With Hikaru's parting comment, Haruhi found herself sandwiched between the twins and swept out the door, Tamaki smiling and waving brightly as they exited.

"Whoa," Kaoru said, collapsing inside the limo.

"No kidding," Hikaru agreed, running a hand through his hair. "I do not envy milord, not one bit."

"I don't understand." Haruhi was looking out the window. "I thought I heard thunder, but there's not a dark cloud out there."

The twins sweat-dropped and wondered how someone who had been watching Kyoya so closely could miss the connection so completely.

***** ***** *****

As soon as the door shut behind the twins and Haruhi, Tamaki's smile dropped. Worriedly, he turned to face the vice-presidential storm brewing in the background. Kyoya usually had too much control to lose his temper in public, but as the club's day had progressed, so had the tension in his neck and shoulders. The other club members didn't know the full extent of Kyoya's temper, and instinctively shied away when there seemed to be a possibility of finding out.

"Try not to die." Hikaru's words came to mind unbidden, and Tamaki's lips twisted upwards grimly.

Instead of approaching Kyoya right away, Tamaki decided to make tea. Haruhi had taught him to boil water without scorching the kettle, a skill applicable to all kinds of commoners' cuisine as well as the basis of many dishes of the wealthy. He carefully prepared the drink, not wanting to annoy Kyoya before he was ready to deal with the fallout.

"What's that?"

"Chai tea with spearmint. It should go well with the cake Honey-senpai left for you." Tamaki kept up a steady stream of chatter while Kyoya drank his tea and had a couple bites of the cake. It didn't stop him from shooting dark glares at his laptop every few seconds though. Finally, Tamaki asked the question. "What's bothering you, Kyoya?"

"It's nothing, Tamaki." But there did seem to be a slight embarrassment underneath the words (Tamaki wasn't sure), and another glare was directed at the laptop.

"Your laptop seems to be troubling you. Do you need a new one?"

"The laptop is fine." Kyoya hesitated before admitting, "A program on it isn't working properly though."

Tamaki was pleased to see the atmosphere lighten a little. "Can I look at it? Maybe I can help."

Kyoya shook his head. "I've tried everything. It's not working."

"Did you try rebooting it?"

Kyoya seemed about to make a scathing retort, but waved a hand at the laptop instead. "Be my guest."

There was some tapping of keys, Kyoya finished his cake and poured another cup of tea, and Tamaki hummed. After a minute or two, Tamaki passed the aggravating piece of technology to Kyoya. "Try it now," he said excitedly.

Mostly to amuse the blonde, Kyoya logged in and opened the troublesome file. After testing a few things out, he shut it down. He raised his eyes to see violet ones eagerly awaiting the outcome. "It worked," he volunteered reluctantly.

"Hooray! Come, Kyoya, let me treat you to dinner. But leave that laptop off tonight; you need a break," he added seriously.

Kyoya shook his head, but called home to let them know he had an appointment with the Suoh heir that evening.

***** ***** *****

When Haruhi and the twins walked into the school, their senses were assaulted by the scent, sight, and feel of roses and rose petals blowing through the building.

"So, does this mean milord is alive…?"

"…or is this a memorial to him?" The twins began to muse aloud.

"I would say he's alive," Haruhi stated, pointing to a cluster of giggling girls. "If Tamaki-senpai was dead, they would be crying rivers."

Signs of Tamaki's well-being were all over the school. When classes were over for the day and it was time for the club, Haruhi felt worn out and they hadn't even seen him yet! Kyoya, however, seemed to be in a pleasant frame of mind, much improved from the previous day.

The twins managed to pull Tamaki aside. "So what was wrong with Kyoya-senpai?"

"Just some computer trouble." Tamaki said breezily, offering Haruhi a rose.

"Computer trouble?" She sweat-dropped, taking the rose without thinking.

"Yep. Oh, that reminds me. Kyoya!" The blonde hurried away.

"Computer trouble," said Hikaru.

"I guess that makes sense," Kaoru agreed.

For her part, Haruhi was stunned that an inanimate object could get more of a reaction from the shadow king than the blond nuisance trying to get him to accept a gift of a dozen rose-shaped stress balls.

"But I bought them for you, Kyoya!"

"No, thank you."

Haruhi had enough sense not to ask when she found one of them in the garbage at the end of the day, life squeezed out of it.

*

**

***Author's Note***

It seemed appropriate to post this because of the current state of problems I'm having with my laptop. Can you believe that I actually wrote this before all that trouble happened? Talk about premonition.