Hi everyone!

As usual, review responses are up first. I just received my first guest review!

Guest: Thank you so much! That comment absolutely made my day!

For anyone interested in voting, the favorite host poll is still up!

The next update should be around Monday or Tuesday. I am still not ahead of the posting schedule. But I will hopefully have time to get a couple of chapters written and get ahead soon!

Now, to the next chapter-in which Tamaki has questions for Lady Mei!

Disclaimer: I do not own the Ouran High School Host Club series. This is a work of fanfiction and has been written for fun, not monetary gain.

A short time after their performance in the city square, the troupe sat in the castle courtyard, entertaining the court ladies. The number of guests had grown significantly since their first day as more ladies seeking light-hearted fun came to them. The courtyard echoed with giggles and chatter. That is, until a young woman in a powder blue dress walked into the courtyard.

"Oh Lady Mei…" the courtyard hushed abruptly as the young woman approached. The ladies cast their eyes down in embarrassment.

"What's wrong, my dear ladies?" Tamaki asked his guests.

"It's Lady Mei. She's so proud. She'll never approve of something like this," one of the court ladies said.

"In fact, she'll probably tell Yuko. We won't be able to come see you anymore once she does that," a second added.

"I see," Tamaki said. He stood and nodded at his group to Kyoya. The illusionist stepped in immediately to disperse the guests among the other troupe members as Tamaki walked towards Lady Mei.

As he approached, he stopped and bowed. "Lady Mei, I hope we're not disturbing anything."

The young woman's face twisted into a slight cringe for a brief moment. "No, you're not. I just came to see what all the fuss was about…"

Tamaki took in the cringe and the reluctance to approach. Perhaps the court ladies had misconstrued the lady-in-waiting's motives.

"Would you like to join us? All guests are welcome," he said.

"I don't know that I would be. It might make the other guests uncomfortable," Mei muttered.

Instantly, Tamaki saw what he needed to do. "I know that wouldn't be true. But, if it would make you more comfortable, you don't have to join a group. You could have a troupe member to yourself."

"Who?" Mei asked, glancing around the courtyard.

"Me." Tamaki reached into his sleeve and produced a yellow rose. He passed it to her with a flourish.

"How do you do that?" Mei asked, staring at the rose in wonder.

"Well my lady, it would spoil the fun if I told you how," Tamaki said. He offered a brilliant smile and his arm. "Walk with me?"

Mei looked him up and down for a brief moment. There might have been a real blush rising on her cheeks behind the rouge, but Tamaki couldn't be sure. She took his arm. "Of course…"

"So, Lady Mei—or would you prefer Mei?" he asked.

"Mei, please."

"Then Mei, I'd like to get to know you better. I know you're the princess's lady-in-waiting, but not much more than that."

"What do you want to know?"

"What are your favorite pastimes perhaps?" Tamaki suggested.

"Oh…well, I design dresses. That takes up most of my free time," she replied. Tamaki nodded. Rumors around the court had told him as much. But he wanted to be sure.

"If that's one of your designs, it's very elegant," he said, indicating her dress.

"Thank you."

"Have you enjoyed our performances so far?"

"I have. It's been wonderful to finally have real performers in Shikanai. We haven't had this kind of entertainment in such a long time."

"Excellent. I'm very glad to hear that."

They lapsed into silence for a moment as Tamaki thought. He had a number of questions for her, but they needed to be approached with tact.

"So you're the princess's only lady-in-waiting?" he asked.

"Well, yes. Unless you count her junior-lady-in-waiting Kirimi."

"How long have you known the princess?"

"For forever. We grew up together."

Tamaki took a few more steps. The next questions needed to seem as nonchalant as possible. "Then I suppose you know a lot about her likes and dislikes?"

"Of course I do—but hey—what kind of interrogation is this?" Mei asked, suspicions roused.

"You see, Mei, I feel that the troupe has done an excellent job of impressing our audience…except for the princess. We can't stand the thought of a dissatisfied patron, especially one in such an esteemed position. We hope we can bring her around. But to do that, we need to know a bit more about her."

Mei snorted. "Well, the only thing you really need to know about her is that she's difficult."

"They say that difficulty makes a task more fulfilling in the end."

"Ha. I don't know where you got that saying from," Mei muttered.

"I must have picked it up during our travels," Tamaki replied.

Mei sighed. "I really don't know that I can tell you much that would help you. Princess Haruhi is very…intellectual. She's usually in the library, her nose buried in some book. She's not musical at all and most of the 'courtly activities' like needlepoint bore her."

"But surely there's something she enjoys doing. That she truly enjoys."

Mei opened her mouth to say something, then closed it promptly. She paused for a few moments, then said, "Oh! Cooking. She used to help my father, Misuzu, in the kitchens all the time. But that was a long time ago."

"Why did she stop?"

"She was barred from it. Yuko considered it an 'unbecoming' task for a princess. Then again, she considers it 'inappropriate' for my father as well."

"I don't think I've had the pleasure of meeting your father," Tamaki said.

"I'm sure you will. He flounces around the castle all the time. You've probably seen him in the court audience. He's the king's right hand advisor, but he prefers to mix with the courtiers and the servants. He thinks its more…'refreshing,'" Mei said, rolling her eyes.

"And what about Yuko?"

"You won't see her. She doesn't attend 'frivolous' activities like troupe performances. Besides, if she did, she would have to stand with my father in the court crowd. She's too snobbish to do that, even though she's the king's second advisor. But from the way this place is run, you'd think she was the monarch…"

"Speaking of monarchs, I'm afraid there's a point I need cleared up regarding titles. I understand that His Majesty takes both the titles of 'king' and 'queen.' But, I can't seem to figure out a pattern as to which title to use. I'm in the dark unless I've seen him personally. Yet, it seems like the rest of the court knows which to address him as," Tamaki said.

"Oh—you haven't seen the banners, have you?" Mei asked.

Tamaki shook his head.

"They stand in the Great Hall. On days that the banners are purple, His Majesty is to be addressed as Queen Ranka. On days that the banners are blue, His Majesty prefers to be called King Ryoji. It changes all the time, so most of the court is used to checking the Great Hall once or twice a day."

Understanding dawned and Tamaki laughed. "Ah! I see! That's quite a smart system!"

"My father thought of it. He said that it would save the court and servants trouble and worry," Mei said. She looked out over the courtyard, her gaze passing over the laughing ladies.

Tamaki caught a gleam of sadness in her eyes. "What's wrong, my lady?"

"I wish I was more like my dad," Mei admitted. "everyone likes him so much. I know the court wonders what's wrong with me. They probably think I'm more like Yuko. But it's not true. It's just…I worry about Princess Haruhi being alone so much. I try to spend most of my time with her, so I come off as unfriendly to the rest of the court. And because I try to dress well and sit near the thrones like I'm supposed to when court is called, everyone thinks I'm stuck up."

Tamaki's head tilted to one side. A bit of advice his father had given him long ago came to mind.

"A monarch's job is to create harmony. Harmony in the court, the capital and the kingdom. And sometimes, the smallest acts mean more to someone else than you would think."

Mei suddenly shook her head viciously. "I'm sorry. I don't know what's wrong with me. Please forget what I said."

"Of course," Tamaki replied. But his mind was already spinning ways to follow his father's advice. He might not be a true monarch. But he was king of the acting troupe for now. An idea sparked.

"Mei, There's someone I would like you to meet," he said.

"Oh…okay," Mei agreed hesitantly.

Tamaki led the lady-in-waiting to the wagon and pulled back the curtain. "Please, come inside."

Mei stepped into the wagon, which had been turned into a makeshift sewing room. Reams of colorful fabrics piled against the sides of the wagon. Completed costume hung from the low beams. Mei gaped.

"Renge?" Tamaki called. "I have someone you should meet."

"Yes Ma—I mean, Tamaki?" Renge emerged from behind a curtain at the back of the wagon, dressed in a long, flowing blue dress and a crown of flowers.

"And which design are you wearing today?" Tamaki asked.

"I'm Euridice from Orfeus and Euridice—the play about lovers separated by death! It's such a shame that Euridice had to return to the underworld simply because she looked back at it!"

At this, Mei's head cocked. "Um…I don't think that's what—"

Tamaki waved a hand. "It's not important. Lady Mei, I would like you to meet our costume designer and manager, Renge."

"You made all these?" Mei's eyes were wide with wonder.

"Why of course!" Renge exclaimed.

"I'd never have time to do this! I sketch designs for the princess's dresses, but someone else has to do the sewing. I've only ever gotten through one design by myself while hand-sewing." Mei ran a hand over the shimmering fabric next to her.

Renge giggled. "Oh no! I'd never be able to do this by hand-sewing!"

"Then how do you do it?"

"Let me show you! It's a wonderful new invention!"

Tamaki smiled at the sudden flood of glee that washed over Mei's face. Hopefully he had done his work for the day. "Well then, ladies, I'll leave you to your work." He excused himself with a bow and stepped out of the wagon.

He caught some of the troupe members staring at him as he went back to visit with the court ladies. He simply smiled. After all, his troupe had never seen the tiny ways he worked for harmony in Alsance and Tamaki didn't want to reveal his methods now. His closest courtiers always thought that they served the king. Tamaki laughed a bit. They'd never believe the truth. They'd never believe that their king worked tireless to serve them.

So the next excerpt is...

"Why not?" Hikaru and Kaoru chorused.

"I just—I just don't do stuff like that!" Haruhi began backing away from the twins, but bumped into Tamaki. She spun around.

"That sounds like more than just a protest," Tamaki said. He put a finger under her chin. "Don't tell me you're just shy about playing Arlecchino's lover."

What has Haruhi gotten dragged into? Check back Monday or Tuesday and find out!