TITLE: Your Highness!
SUMMARY: When a stranger knocks at the door of the Fujioka household, it leads to trouble for everyone, including every member of the Host Club being asked by their parents to make Haruhi their betrothed!?
STORY PAIRINGS: Haruhi+Tamaki, Honey+Mori

PLEASE NOTE: This story is rated M. According to the FF site, that means it has to be appropriate for ages 16+ WITHOUT explicit content, which includes adult language, themes, and suggestions. This story meets those requirements.

CHAPTER 10
HARUHI THE HUSTLER!

Haruhi and Tamaki had had a breakfast date night that morning. Her overseeing and slightly annoying servants hadn't pestered her about anything that morning. Not about her lessons or studying. The driver that had started taking her to school didn't even show up. She didn't particularly mind, she just figured maybe this was a Kishon holiday that she wasn't aware of. So Tamaki had picked her up and taken her to school. They were walking (not purposefully) by the old host club room when they noticed the door had been left ajar.

"Huh, who could be in there?" Tamaki walked forward opening the door and saw the entire host club sitting together and speaking in low voices. They stopped talking the moment he walked in and he flicked on the light. "Guys, what are you all..."

As a pleasant surprise Honey and Mori were there, dressed in normal clothes since they weren't students anymore. But they all looked kind of disheartened.

"What's up?" Haruhi asked frowning slightly.

"Have you seen the news this morning?" Kyoya asked sternly.

"No..." she admitted and he placed a copy of the mornings paper in her hands. She was headline news.

HARUHI THE HUSTLER!

The Princess of Kishon is an Imposter!

Haruhi quickly skimmed it to get the gist of what the paper was saying and then she lowered it looking up at the sad faces of the Host Club.

"Oh c'mon guys don't look so glum. I mean. I wasn't really cut out to be a Princess anyway. Besides, I'm sure whoever they found will do a much better job than me."

"Haruhi," Kaoru said tentatively. He stopped talking though unable to say what he wanted.

Kyoya picked up from there, "Haruhi, if this turns out to be true. Then that means you were switched at birth. Your Mother and your Father... They aren't yours..."

Haruhi hadn't got far enough into the article to realize they had been switched, but she pulled the paper back to her eyes and read the paragraph at the end that said it is believed that the babies were mistakenly switched in the hospital since they were born on the same day and roughly the same time.

"But... I..." she suddenly realized that this was the reason why everyone looked so sad.

"I mean... If that is the case then... My Dad is always going to be my Dad. No paper or nothing as little as being switched at birth is going to change that fact," she explained defiantly. Almost as if trying to convince herself.

"Haruhi," Kyoya reached forward and hugged her. This threw Tamaki off a bit and he looked around at everyone as though asking, what the hell is he doing?

"It'll be okay," Kyoya said softly. "I will look into this as well. You don't need to worry."

"Uh... okay," she answered somewhat awkwardly. It wasn't likey Kyoya to hug anyone, let alone her. He broke their embrace and even smiled at her.

"Tamaki why don't you take Haruhi home, I think she probably needs to speak with her Dad about this..."

"...Oh gosh Dad!" Haruhi gasped. "Yeah, I should talk to him before he hears about it."

She grabbed Tamaki's hand hurrying out the door. It wasn't like her to skip school, but this was important.

The rest of the host club watched her go and Kyoya removed a handkerchief from his pocket and place the few strands of Haruhi's hair that he had collected during their hug into it.

"So, that will tell you for sure if Haruhi is the Princess?" Hikaru asked frowning slightly.

"Well, it'll tell me for sure if she's really related to her Father. I'll need some hair strands from this other Princess as well if I'm to be 100% sure."

"Their doing their own DNA testing aren't they?" Honey asked. "Why do you need to do one as well."

"It's quite possible that they would tamper with it just to get someone else in line for the throne. If I do one as well, we'll be twice as sure of the result."

"I really hope she's the Princess," Kaoru frowned. "I mean, it would suck to lose her whole family just like that..."

"As Haruhi said," Kyoya pointed out. "Her Father is not going to stop being her father over something like this. He still raised Haruhi from a baby, and blood relation or not that's a pretty strong bond there. Regardless of the result he is still going to be her Father. All this test will determine is if he gets another daughter or not."

"So, that's it then..." Hikaru urged as if asking what they were all supposed to do now.

"Not quite. I need to talk to you four about something..." with that he walked over and made sure the door to the Host Club room was securely closed.

"Hello!"

When Haruhi had opened the door to her and her Father's apartment she found Beignet sitting across the table from him. She glanced up and saw Hasuru in the corner and she jumped backing up a step. Which was nothing compared to how Tamaki reacted actually calling out, "Shit it's him!"

She hadn't liked the man since the day he had hurt Honey so badly but to just randomly see him in her home...

"Don't mind him, he's been selected to be my temporary body guard, at least until we get this whole mess sorted out," she said getting to her feet. She walked over to Haruhi holding out her hand. "Hello, it seems I might be your Father's daughter..."

Haruhi awkwardly reached out and shook it back.

"Both of you sit down for a minute," her Dad ordered and they did. Tamaki sat against the wall not wanting to impose. "Regardless of the results we'll receive in the coming days, Haruhi is my daughter. That will never change."

"Oh course Father," Beignet nodded smiling.

Haruhi glanced at her sideways. She had her Father's hair. It was the exact color... But her eyes weren't his. They did look like her Mother's though, but then again, brown eyes were very common. She had brown eyes and as it turns out she might not be her Mother's daughter after all.

"If it turns out that Beignet is my daughter, then I want you two to get along and be friendly, understood?"

"Yes Father," she answered again.

"..." he sighed. "Now, I don't want to be rude, but I would like some time to speak alone with Haruhi."

"Of course, I understand completely," she said getting to her feet. Hasuru did so as well. "Well Haruhi, here is hoping we'll be sisters soon..."

With that she and Hasuru left the apartment closing the door softly behind him.

Her Father looked over at her. "Haruhi... I don't know what to say. But please understand. This will change nothing. You're still our child regardless of the results. The memories you and Mama have and the memories you have with me are still valid and important."

"I know Dad," she said smiling. "You don't need to tell me twice. I'm a Fujioka regardless of the results."

He walked around the table and hugged her. It felt... strange. For the first time, she knew the man she was hugging might not actually be her Father, and she felt her heart ache slightly. Tamaki didn't know what to say or do. He almost wanted to cry for her since it was very obvious that Haruhi was trying to be much stronger than she felt. But he knew one thing for sure. He loved Haruhi Fujioka before he knew she was a Princess, and he would love her regardless if the results showed she was a Princess or not...

Kyoya had made a special trip to see Beignet when she was in town. He went under the guise of trying to secure her hand in marriage if the results turned out that she was indeed the Princess. She smugly but politely refused saying she already had someone in mind. Not wanting to press the matter further. He hugged her, and whispered in her ear, "You're making a big mistake."

The cryptic warning hadn't really been about the fact that she refused to marry him, but she had no way of knowing that. He then released her and left the restaurant she was in, he placed the hair sample he collected from her in another handkerchief. He had already had one of his servants get some hair strands from Haruhi's father the other day. He had all the pieces to the puzzle now. He just had to connect them...

The results came in and it got plastered all over the news. Haruhi was not the heir.

But the Host Club didn't care about their results. They cared about Kyoya's results since it was the only results they trusted.

The host club (excluding Haruhi and Tamaki, because they didn't know they had arranged this) gathered in the old Host Club room once again.

"Well?" Hikaru asked nervously.

"It's what we thought..."

"Shit," Kaoru scoffed looking away.

"So we're really just going to let this happen. I mean..."

"We all agreed the other day. It would be what's best for everyone," Kyoya explained.

"Haru-chan will be safer this way," Honey said softly. "Not being a Princess... Whoever was trying to kill her will stop now, she'll be safer."

"Yeah, but... Damn it, I wish it hadn't turned out like this!" Hikaru snapped angrily and Kaoru put a consoling hand on his shoulder.

"I asked Haruhi and Tamaki to arrive here shortly after us. We can tell her the results."

"She probably already read the paper," Hikaru snapped angrily.

"Yes, but like you all, my results will be more trustworthy to her," Kyoya pointed out.

Withing seconds of his finishing the sentence the door opened and Haruhi and Tamaki walked in. They both looked upset.

"So it turns out..." she frowned. "I'm not my Dad's daughter after all."

Kyoya grabbed one of the two manila folders on the desk behind him. "Haruhi, I did my own dna test to make sure the others weren't tampering with the results."

"And..." she looked hopeful for only the briefest of moments, but it returned to normal upon seeing his expression. "I see..."

"I just, didn't want you to be wondering the rest of your life," Kyoya explained. "Do you want to see it?"

She shook her head no. "Seeing the paperwork won't change anything. I think I'm going to go home and spend some time with my Dad. Just us..."

With that she turned looking miserable as she headed out the door.

"Haruhi wait!" Hikaru called rushing forward but Kyoya held out a hand to stop him.

"Don't!" he warned.

"Ugh," Hikaru spun around to Tamaki who hadn't moved since he arrived at that spot. "Shouldn't you be going after her?"

"Right now..." Tamaki said softly. "I think she really wants to be alone. Nothing I say or do will make any difference."

The days started passing in a blur for Haruhi. Not unlike the days following her Mother's death and before she knew it, it was time for Princess Beignet's coronation party. Her Father was expected to go, and she wasn't going to let him go alone, and the Host Club wasn't going to let Haruhi be there without them. So they were all taking one last flight to Kishon.

The coronation was beautiful. Her Father stood up next to Beignet and her... well... Beignet's Grandfather placed the crown on her head. Later her Father danced with Beignet and that hurt a lot more than Haruhi was willing to admit. Almost as if to distract her Tamaki asked her to dance at the same time and she agreed. It was a decent night, but honestly she wasn't too sad. She was the one going home with her Father, and Beignet would remain here in Kishon. Most likely they wouldn't really even see one another except maybe holidays. All in all, she felt she had the better end of the deal. She didn't have to be a Princess and her Dad was still her Dad. Everything would be okay, she was sure of it.

Her Dad headed out at the end of the coronation because he had to work the next morning, but Haruhi and the others were remaining until the following day because that's when their flight was leaving. They were allowed to stay in the manor since Haruhi was (if nothing else) the adopted sister of the Princess. Come the next morning everyone was in high spirits and ready to go home.

As they were heading to the exit Beignet appeared at the top of the stairs smiling. "I'm glad you could come sister," she said smiling. "Please do visit me again."

"Uh... sure," Haruhi said and they exchanged a tense hug.

Beignet turned back ascending the step half way before she turned back. They were already almost to the door.

"Wait a moment," she said. "Honey, where are you going?"

Honey looked back at her looking slightly confused. "I'm going home, with my friends."

"But..." and she put on the fakest expression of confusion Haruhi had ever seen. "But aren't you supposed to stay here?"

"Why would I stay here?" he asked holding Usa-chan close to him. Everyone was looking around at one another confused.

What was she playing at?

"I thought Hasaru told me that you pledged your hands to the daughter of Princess Koriko Tokari Korokawa, and well... that's me now."

"Well, I said that when I thought Haru-chan was the Princess, sorry."

With that he turned back heading towards the door again.

"I see... So this is how you want the Haninozuka name to be remembered? That they're disloyal and they lie?" she was staring at her nails and looked up at Honey the moment she finished speaking, as if knowing those words would get to him.

Honey froze mid step upon hearing it and he turned to look at her. His glare was terrifying. Slits for eyes only just visible in the shade of his bangs. Almost as though he had realized the face he was making he smiled. "You're right," he said cheerfully.

"Honey-sempai," Kaoru frowned. "You're not really going to stay are you?"

"A promise is a promise," he explained smiling a smile that didn't look at all happy. "I pledged my hands to the eldest daughter of Princess Koriko Tokari Korokawa. Not Haruhi. If she no longer fits that description, then she is not the one I should be serving..."

"But you said that when you thought it was Haruhi!" Tamaki snapped. "So, can't their be an exception?"

Honey began walking back towards the steps, with them all lined up on either side of him it felt almost like he were walking the green mile.

"Honey-senpai it's not okay, I'm sure your family won't care!" Haruhi snapped. "I'll tell them it's my fault. They can blame me. Just come home with us, I'll talk to your Dad and-"

"I should have worded it differently Haru-chan," Honey explained stopping briefly before her. "This is no one's fault but mine."

He kept walking again and this time Kyoya spoke up, though he was looking a Beignet. "You're not taking him. You're-"

"Hush Kao-chan," Honey interrupted in a borderline dangerous sounding voice. Kyoya opened his mouth to speak when Honey added, "Not another word from you."

He stopped again right beside Mori.

"Takashi, here," he handed Usa-chan to him. "Look after everyone in my absence. You can do whatever you want with Usa-chan. I don't... I don't need him anymore."

"Mitsukini," Takashi began reaching a hand out towards him.

"Bye Takashi," Honey responded quickly and turned on his heel before Takashi's outstretched hand had reached out to him.

Honey fell to one knee before Beignet and smiling she descended the stairs stopping right before him. "You'll be the loveliest weapon in my arsenal."

"But every army needs a plan B," she said softly side stepping him. Her heels clicked as she headed over towards Mori. Honey understood in an instant what she intended to do. And he would not let her.

Honey said something incoherent. Something that sounded not unlike ancient Japanese. He said it just low enough for them to hear, but Beignet seemed to have missed it. Whatever the word had meant however, it made Mori's expression appear as though he had just been told someone dear to him had died.

"Honey my faithful servant, order Takashi to stay her too."

"Sorry," Honey answered without getting to his feet. "Takashi isn't my servant anymore."

"Ugh, liar! You have to do what I say. You pledged your hands to me!"

"He's not my—"

"Since when?"

"Since about ten seconds ago," he answered.

"Uh," she frowned. "Well, maybe Takashi will stay here of his own accord... Huh? How about it? You'll get to remain with your best friend Honey."

"I will be returning home." It sounded as though it pained him greatly to say that, and Haruhi thought she knew why. He had already been given an order by Honey to watch over them all. He would probably have preferred death then to disobey the last order Honey had given him.

"Tsk, whatever," she spat, all gentleness gone from her voice. She spun back around and gave a command to one of the servants standing at the wall. "These children are no longer welcome here. Send them home and put them on the no fly list back!"

"Yes your highness," the servant answered and we walked forward ushering them all to leave.

She looked over her shoulder, "But of course you're welcome dear Sister."

Haruhi tried to rush forward but a few more servants came out darn near pushing them to the exit.

"Come along Honey," Beignet demanded.

He stood up slowly to follower her up the staircase, and he didn't turn back once to look at them, even as they called his name while they were in the process of being shoved out the door. No one called louder or more desperately than Kaoru, but Haruhi, Tamaki, and Hikaru were all screaming for him as well. Begging him to just turn around, just come back. Just go home with them. Haruhi didn't realize this until later, but Mori too had turned his back and not looked once in Honey's direction as he left the building.

I really suck at updating. But my 2018 resolution is to actually update all my stories and keep updating them on a semi-regular basis! I guess we'll have to see if I can do it. XP