Chapter 11: The Grand Commoner-For-The-Day Mission Part 3.

Disclaimer: I don't own Ouran HSHC.

Note: This story has been incomplete since 2010. I've had a lot of requests to finish it, but I didn't know how. Life moved on, and I forgot about it a few times. Still, I've always loved Ouran HSHC and I have a soft spot for this story. It also seemed wrong to leave it unfinished. So, eight years later, I'm attempting to write more chapters and an ending. I just want to say thank you, thank you, thank you so much to everyone who read it, favorited it, and commented that they wanted more chapters and an ending. This is for you.

"Kyoya-kun," Haruhi said, handing him an ice cream. It was green tea. He blinked, wondering how she knew he liked that flavor the best.

"You don't like sweets much," she told him simply.

Kyoya sighed. "Neither do you."

Haruhi smiled at him. "We are a bit alike, aren't we senpai?"

"Kyoya-kun," he reminded her.

They did have a lot in common, he realized, half elated, half unhappy. Tamaki's words echoed in his memory. "You still think it's just a phase?" Tamaki had said. "Then at least make sure for Haruhi's sake."

Haruhi was watching him, her brown eyes thoughtful. He had the horrible feeling she could read his mind sometimes.

The problem with being an Ootori was that dating was considered frivolous. Marriage was about business. There was no time for he and Haruhi to grow up, change, find out what they both liked. There would be a serious engagement, and a wedding shortly after. That applied to any member of The Host Club. Kyoya had seen the young women his father thought suitable for marriage. Until Haruhi had come along, he had assumed any marriage he made would be loveless and cold. In some ways that was preferable, he realized. There was a possibility that he and Haruhi would grow apart one day, and that one or both of them would be hurt. Probably him, the way things were going.

Haruhi sighed. "I didn't think I would get married for a decade or so," she shrugged. "Especially not to you, Kyoya-kun." She looked up at him nervously.

Kyoya suddenly understood why Tamaki made a habit of growing mushrooms in the corner of the room whenever Haruhi made a thoughtless comment. He felt a little like disintegrating into fine powder.

"Nor I you," he replied coldly, pushing up his glasses to hide the expression in his eyes.

"Haruhi," said two sing-song voices. "We found another commoner!"

A girl wearing a game store uniform was struggling between their arms, unable to escape their tight grip.

"This is a mall for commoners. You're surrounded by them," Haruhi said flatly. "And that's kidnapping." She pointed to the angry girl whose wrists were turning white. "I think you're cutting off her blood circulation."

They let go of her, laughing. "We caught one! We caught one! A working commoner!"

"I'm going to get fired," the girl said furiously. "There's no one watching the store!"

Haruhi groaned as the girl took off running. "You're lucky she didn't call the police," she said. But the twins had already skipped off together, laughing about catching another commoner.

Kyoya crossed out the twins' names in his notebook. Haruhi read the heading. It said "Mall Contest." Next to each name was a percentage. Tamaki had the highest percentage, Haruhi noticed. Kyoya was third highest, after Hikaru.

"What makes you think you won't win?" Haruhi asked curiously.

Kyoya snapped his notebook shut. "Tamaki isn't the club's highest rated host for nothing," he said. "He also has talents I do not."

"But," Haruhi said puzzled, "As long as I have a good time with you, you'll win."

Kyoya tensed up a little. "I'm not Tamaki, Haruhi. I don't ply girls with sweet words, charm, and beautiful music. I'm not the twins, who make everyone laugh. I'll never win a strong, silent competition, and no-one would ever say I'm cute."

Haruhi burst out laughing, doubling over as she imagined Kyoya acting like Huni-senpai. "No," she said, wiping tears from her eyes. "You definitely wouldn't win a cuteness competition. You radiate evil vibes. But - no date with you could ever be boring," she said, straighening up and smiling at him. "Besides, when I'm with you, I know I have nothing to worry about."

Kyoya blinked in surprise. With those words, it was as if a cage was being opened, and the prison he had locked himself into had transformed into sunlight and open fields. She was right, he realized. He had always assumed that no woman would like him for who he truly was. Most girls fell for his Host Club persona, or made up a personality for him in their heads. Ouran had always felt like a prison of giggling girls, sycophantic boys, and tedious expectations, until he had met Tamaki, and then Haruhi.

"You've missed your mother, haven't you Haruhi?" He asked. "And your father hasn't always been the most reliable of parents."

Haruhi looked at him seriously. "No one could try harder than him," she said simply. "I miss my mother, but I'm used to being on my own."

Kyoya's mouth set in a grim line. "You won't ever be alone again," he promised her, surprising himself as the words came out. "I'll always be by your side."

Haruhi stared at him in surprise. His expression and his tone made it sound like a threat. She imagined his secret police force hiding around the corner from her apartment, terrifying the neighbors. But she knew him better now. He was much nicer, and more caring, than he pretended. He also had a lot more common sense than Tamaki.

She smiled, lighting up the room. "Then I'll rely on you, senpai."

Meanwhile, Tamaki was having the time of his life. He had forgotten about the contest. A golden retriever was licking his face at the pet store while the bemused worker, who had introduced herslf as Cat, looked on. Cat laughed nervously. "You really love dogs, don't you?"

Tamaki laughed joyfully. "I love all pets! They love my boundless enthusiasm, my radiant charm, my soothing, refreshing nature!"

"Oh," she said nervously. It was a shame that such a good-looking boy was so insane, she thought. He was right about being refreshing though.

He looked up at her laughing, and she couldn't help but smile back.

"Do you want to meet my friends?" he asked.

Later…

The twins had dragged the game store worker, Chihiro, back with them. Haruhi looked at her curiously. She wasn't struggling this time. She looked happy. Tamaki had arrived with a pet store worker, a timid-looking girl who had shyly introduced herself as Cat. Huni and Mori had arrived with boxes of cake, but no commoners.

"Look, Haru-chan!" Huni said. "We brought commoner's cake!"

"Mmm," said Mori.

"That doesn't count," Kyoya said, putting a line through their names.

Huni's face fell, but then lit up again when he had a mouthful of cream bun.

"We found a toy," the twins chorused.

"By any chance," Kyoya said, pushing up his glasses. "Were you paid to be here?" he asked Chihiro.

The girl looked sullen, until Kyoya glared at her.

"Alright, I was paid!" she squeaked, terrified of Kyoya.

The twins groaned. "We've been exposed," they chanted. "We've been exposed."

People in the mall were starting to stare at them, much to Haruhi's annoyance.

"I'm keeping the money," the girl said. Kyoya glared at her again, and she fled.

"Tamaki is the only one who brought a commoner here of her own free will," Kyoya said. "Is that correct?"

"Yes," the girl nodded shyly. She couldn't look at Kyoya, which explained why she hadn't run away yet too, Haruhi thought wryly.

"He was so adorable, I couldn't say no. He looked like a puppy."

Haruhi groaned. He had used his secret weapon. If the puppy dog eyes didn't make you swoon, they would make you feel unbelievably guilty.

"What did you do together?" Kyoya asked. "Did you have fun on your date?"

"Date? We didn't go on a date!" the girl exclaimed, flushing red.

"My sweet princess, I must apologize!" Tamaki said, taking her hands. "I was so distracted by your beauty, I forgot to take you anywhere!"

"What you mean is, you played with the dogs and forgot about her," Haruhi said flatly.

Tamaki crumbled into fine dust.

"Oh my!" said the girl.

"Don't worry," Huni said to her. "Tama-chan's good at reassembling himself."

"Ah," agreed Mori.

"It looks like you win, Kyoya-kun," Haruhi smiled up at him.