Once again... I'm uploading ridiculously fast... *high fives face* but it's only to compensate for my nonexistence during the weeks! Anyway, thanks to everyone, especially those of you who've reviewed!

"Heeeeeeeee-ya!" Tamaki kicked the can high into the air. The other hosts raced for a hiding spot. Hikaru and Kaoru sprinted off, grabbing Honey and Mori along with them. Haruhi and Emiko dashed for the nearest hedges.

"Ha… ha…ha…" they both huffed and squatted discretely behind the lush greenery. Once they'd caught their breath, Haruhi and Emiko settled down, knowing that Tamaki would take forever to find them.

"This'll take a while," Haruhi smiled, brushing a bit of dirt off her blue blazer.

"He's bound to find us someday," Emiko nodded, pulling at her canary-yellow dress. She'd never liked it and constantly wanted to tear it off, unfortunately for her, doing so would most likely result in a visit to the principal's office, which was something her parents would never allow.

"So," Haruhi interrupted her thoughts, "Why an origami rose?"

"I…" Emiko paused, wondering why Haruhi could be so nice to her, "It's something that same maid taught me," she explained. "I never had many friends as a child, and there wasn't much one could do in a big mansion, so my maids would spend time with me. They taught me all sorts of things, from cleaning to sewing, but only one maid ever taught me how to do something unexpected…" she trailed off, biting her lip.

"The origami rose is a symbol of her past, and when she taught me how to fold it, she said that it could represent anything I wanted…" Emiko poked at the grass hesitantly, "I leave it behind in place of what I steal to show that I was there. Even if it's insignificant and no one ever notices the change, I'll know." She finished, hoping that Haruhi wouldn't look down on her.

"That's pretty cool," Haruhi hugged her knees, "But why candles and teacups and small things? We're all actually all a little stumped about that," she asked with a laugh.

"Oh, well I'm no Robin Hood," Emiko smiled in return, "I don't want to steal anything valuable… it's more like I'm proving that I can do it… that I can get in and out without anyone noticing…" Emiko paused, a sudden thought making her heart pound in worry, "Oh you must think I'm such a spoiled brat…" she sighed miserably.

"No not at all," Haruhi began, "You're actually really incredible. So don't worry about being spoiled… you're not like-" she was cut off by Tamaki pouncing on her and squeezing her cheeks.

"Got you! Daddy's got you!"

"Like him…" Haruhi managed to say flatly, before being smothered by an embrace.

"Hey, what's with the "daddy" thing?" Emiko tilted her head in wonder, surprised that she hadn't asked sooner.

"You really don't want to kno-" Haruhi was cut off again by Kyoya and the rest of the hosts squeezing in beside them behind the hedge.

"Yes, I have to be the "mommy"," Kyoya said, voice monotone and a flush of embarrassment rising in his chest.

"It's our family," Tamaki, who'd come to his senses, brushed his hair from his eyes. "Haruhi is my little girl!" He squeezed her cheeks and threw a winning smile at Kyoya. "He's the mom, the twins are the annoying little brats, and Honey and Mori are our cousins…" (Honey and Mori: …. C-o-u-s-i-n-s?)

"Hey! You're the annoying one boss!" The twins sang, dodging Tamaki's flailing arms of indignation.

"And hey…" Tamaki stopped flailing, becoming suddenly serious again, "You could be a part of our family too…" He smiled sweetly at her. "You're always welcome."

Ba-dum… what is this feeling? Ba-dum… it's everywhere… I feel so… so… happy.

Emiko was lost for words. She felt as if she was going to cry and laugh at the same time. It was a strange feeling… she didn't know if she liked it or not.

"T-that would be…" she murmured softly, "Amazing."

Music Room #3:

"Oh Kyoya! You're so smart!" The girls twittered and giggled.

"T-tamaki? I…" Tamaki put a finger to the girl's lips.

"Hush princess… right now it's only you a me…" The girl nearly fainted out of happiness.

"Let's play… the which one is Hikaru game!" The twins grinned at the cheering group of girls.

"Takashi! Takashi! Catch me!" Honey's bubbly laugh made the girls' hearts melt.

"Awww… look at them together! It's so adorable!" The girls all had hearts shining in their eyes.

"Haruhi! Would you like to eat this cake?" The girl held out a beautifully decorated sweet.

"Sure! But we should share it, don't you think?" Haruhi asked with a friendly smile. The girl blushed and nodded

"Huff," Emiko sank to her knees behind a wall. This is more work than I thought, she brushed her hair back. Who knew hosts could be so messy? She'd just finished hauling the used and dirty dishes to the kitchen staff and had wiped up the spilled tea. What slobs, she thought with a sigh. Remaining seated, she pulled a crumpled pamphlet out of her apron pocket.

"Free spa trip? How interesting," she flipped through the pages. She'd received the offer at the commoners' market, a place she was beginning to love. Ever since Haruhi had moved up, Emiko was the one buying ridiculous amounts of instant coffee. A spa… she hadn't been to one since she was ten.

"Would you like to go there?" A voice startled her out of her musing. Kyoya loomed over her, arms crossed.

"What? Oh no, no I mean my family belongs to a private spa… I just.. I was thinking of how I haven't been there in a while," Emiko stammered, annoyed at being caught off guard.

"It wouldn't be bad to take a little vacation," Kyoya examined his nails casually. "We'll go," he added with a calculating look.

"A vacation? Where?" Honey poked his head around the corner.

"Vacation?" Tamaki came up with Haruhi.

"Yes," Kyoya nodded.

"Oooh! Where are we going?" The twins tossed their hats to the ground. (Emiko: hey! I have to pick those up!)

"A spa trip," Kyoya replied.

"Ah no! This seems a little sudden… doesn't it?" Emiko said flustered, not wanting them to go on account of her.

"Don't complain," Kyoya pushed up his glasses, "Since you're our maid… you have no choice but to go," he added with a wide smile. Irritation glinted in Emiko's eyes.

"Yay! Emi-chan! We're going on a trip!" Honey bounced in happiness, dissolving the tension.

"Yeah… guess we are," Emiko said reluctantly.

"This should be fun," Tamaki smiled, looking at his hosts knowingly.

Haruhi: "Oh joy…"

Wouldn't you love to be Renge? I mean... you could just pay for someone to film your favorite books or mangas... how awesome would that be? Then you could have all the obscure mangas that never turn into animes get an animated version.. sigh..

She hasn't made an appearance yet, but we'll see... *eyes glint slyly*

p.s. I've written this from the English standpoint... with the English name spellings and all... because... well because I like to make my life easier... *apologizes*