-Flora, had to drive out to get Mom and Dad. There's cereal, and some other stuff for you to eat. Probably be home at dinner time.

She sighed, folding the note into the beginnings of a paper crane. Bukiyona curled up under the table, setting her mammoth head on Flora's toes.

"Thanks for that, dog, linoleum flooring is pretty cold. Why don't kitchens have carpets? Like, special made carpets where everything you spill or drop just kind of gets sucked up into it and pulled into some tubing, and then… I don't know. Why am I even-"

RING! RING!

Flora let the phone ring a few times, expecting Eiichi to be on the other end, telling her they were coming home later than expected. So sluggishly, she hauled herself out of the chair, letting the dog's head drop to the floor, and slowly reached for the phone.

"Hello, this is Flora Tsukino, if you're looking for Mrs. or Mr. Tsukino they are out on business now, but I can take a message if you-"

"Hey, Flora-senpai, it's just me- Haruhi."

"Oh, sorry, people don't usually call me."

His voice is so feminine, if he even is a he…maybe Haruhi is just a girl in drag. Flora smiled at the thought, it was believable enough.

"No, it's okay, I was just wondering-" The voice cut off. "Sorry, we were wondering if you wanted to go to lunch. It's just the guys from the Club, they like doing commoner things sometimes, so it's fun to humor them. We're going to meet at my house if you want to come."

"Sure, that sounds like fun. Where are we eating?"

"The restaurant that opened last year in my town."

"I think I know what you're talking about, but isn't that place kind of expensive?"

"Not for those guys."

"Huh, I guess so. What time should I come over?"

"Anytime before twelve. Do you know where I live?"

"Oh, yeah, Tamaki gave me a list of addresses and phone numbers for everyone in the Host Club on my first day."

"He's so strange. But, anyway, see you in a little while."

"See ya', Haruhi." She said, glancing up at the clock on the other side of the room. It was ten o'clock now. That would be enough time to take a shower, and drive out to the younger's apartment.

Not wanting to waste a moment, she hung up the phone, and ran upstairs.

"So is Flora-Celine coming?!"

"Yeah," Haruhi faced Tamaki again. He had (unsurprisingly) been the first one to her house. Her father wasn't entirely pleased, and was now sitting in the kitchen poking at his oatmeal.

Tamaki clapped, and spun around in a little circle.

"Why are you so excited? I was the one who suggested she come with us."

"Yes, but this will be perfect!"

"Why?" She asked carefully.

"Isn't it obvious?! We can turn this into a date for Mori-senpai and her. It'll be wonderful!" She rolled her eyes as he wistfully sighed. "I'm sure even you can tell that he's fallen for her quite hard."

"Yeah, but I can't tell if she likes him."

"Ooh, that tall, strong one?" Ranka giggled, finally pushing the bowl to the side, and stand to grab his purse.

"Yes, do you remember him?"

"Of course I do! I think he's my favorite!" Tamaki looked hurt, but covered it up with a quick smile. He opened his mouth to say something else, but there was a knock at the door.

"I'll get it." Haruhi rushed out of the kitchen.

Flora threw on a pair of faded, black jeans, a nice blue shirt, and flats to make it fancy. Her hair was thrown up into a messy bun, bangs pinned back, and she rushed out of the door. Her hands were still sore, but there wasn't any other way to drive out but by her cycle. The handles made her hands burn and ache, but she tried to ignore it. Doing things with her hands would be good anyway, right?

Even so, she was grateful to hop off the bike when she finally arrived at the apartment. As she jogged up the steps to the door, she rubbed her hands together. Little spots of blood seeped through the bandages. She could check if any of the stiches had torn later. It didn't hurt that much, and the wounds were mostly healed anyway.

I'll be fine…It'll be fine. This could hurt a lot worse, and besides I don't want to seem rude and turn down the invitation…

"One second!" Haruhi called from inside over the ruckus inside. Flora lightly wrung her hands, a habit that wasn't useful in her current position. The door sprung open after a few minutes. Haruhi, who Flora could now obviously tell was a girl, greeted her. "Hey, Flora-Celine-senpai!" She said it loudly enough for the Hikaru and Tamaki to hear, and quiet down from their heated conversation. "We're leaving now, dad!"

"Without letting me see your only girl friend?!" A woman ran up to the door, and engulfed Flora in a life-threatening hug. She could hear Kaoru whisper something, and Honey snicker behind her. "You can call me Ranka!" He held out his hand for her to shake. She took it lightly, and shook.

"I'm Flora Tsukino." She smiled gleefully. The happiness of this person was infectious.

"Well, if that is all, I suppose you can go now." He gave Haruhi and hug, and kiss, and the boys filed out behind her.

"There's been a slight change in plans," Haruhi said, "We can't go to the restaurant because they're closed today."

"I heard there was a beautiful temple nearby. We should go there!" Tamaki sprung up from behind Haruhi.

"Sure, I know what you're talking about. I went there with my mom once. We can walk there from here."

Flora glanced around at the boys. It was almost strange to see them out of their uniforms except for Mori, she thought. The few days in New York had made her accustomed to seeing him without the powder blue jacket, and crisp white shirt.

"How far away is it?" Kyoya asked only a few minutes into their walk.

"Only about a block." Haruhi sighed.

"Are you tired already?" Flora taunted from the back of the group.

"No, I am not, I was simply curious."

"Wow," Flora breathed when they finally arrived, and hiked up the steps. "It's very nice."

She pushed ahead by someone, and stumbled into Mori. "Sorry!" She sputtered. "I didn't mean to…they just accidentally knocked into me." But Mori wasn't paying too much attention to her. His eyes were locked on their group, huddled up, and whispering. Flora's eyes followed where his were, and watched them until they slowly backed away from each other. "What were you guys-?"

"Nothing, nothing!" Tamaki reassured her. "Simply discussing possible lunch plans."

"Did you need to be so secretive about it?" She deadpanned.

He chuckled, and flourished one hand. "You weren't banned from joining the conversation Flora-san."

She groaned under her breath. He was lying, but she didn't know what about.

"C'mon, I really want to see the fountain!" Honey called from the back of the group, and dashed away before Mori could follow him.

"We're going to the gift shop!" The twins yelled, grabbing hold of Haruhi's arms, and dragging her away.

"I'm going too, then!" Tamaki look flustered as he dashed after them.

"I suppose I'll follow them, and make sure they don't break anything." Kyoya was out of their site before Flora noticed that Mori was a good fifty feet away, walking in the direction of the fountain.

"Wait!" She jogged up behind him. "Slow down. I have to take two steps for every step you take." She smiled. He stared straight ahead.

"Did your parents come home?"

"Hmm, oh yeah, I guess. Eiichi had to drive out to get them this morning , but they probably won't be home until five I think."

He nodded stiffly, and gazed around the open air at the buildings. There wasn't a single fountain anywhere.

"Do you know where the fountain is?"

"I have no idea, but that looks kind of like a map on that building."

"That's a storage shed."

"With a map on it." She jogged up to it, and he slowly followed. "Wait, this isn't…" she stood, puzzled by the scribbles on the page. Reading kanji had been difficult for her in the past, but this was barely that. It was chicken scratch kanji. There was no way she could understand it. And the haphazard layout hastily drawn on with a pencil, and taped on the sliding door, was a little less than convincing.

"What-"

Before he could finish, the door was swung open with a flourish, and they were pushed in by separate assailants. The door slammed shut before Mori could get up. If he could get up. As soon as Flora made eye contact with him, she backed away faster than humanly possible.

"Sorry," she squeaked out.

"It's not your fault." He swung to his feet, and reach for the door. It was locked.

"Takashi?" She called out in the darkness. Neither could see too far in front of their own hands. The only light was coming from some chips in the wood as the base of the building. "Is the door locked?"

His head was halfway to nodding, before he realized she wouldn't be able to see him. "Yeah." He whispered just loud enough for her to hear.

"They locked us in here?!" She cried.

"Yeah." He whispered again.

"This…" she huffed, "This is just infuriating. I actually wanted to come here, and look at the shrine, and they turn it into… well this!" She fumed. She couldn't move around too much in fear of knocking some unseen object down, and she wasn't yelling because it was such a tiny space, she didn't want to seem too rude. "Just because your-" She stopped herself. Hopefully he hadn't been paying too close attention to her mumbled words. She wasn't supposed to know about his father, and the whole marriage or relationship thing. Would Eiichi get in trouble?

"Because my what?" He asked cautiously.

He knows, oh God, it's so obvious he knows. Had there been some more light the horror on her face would have shown.

"What?" He implored again, not as forcefully this time.

She took a breath. The slight untruth she had been living under was going to make itself evident at some point. Sooner was better than later.

"My brother told me that your father was umm… interested in me to become your—well that sounds a bit weird, but I mean. I'm not saying that you want to be, and this shouldn't make anything uncomfortable. He just…I know, and it doesn't really make a difference."

The silence was piercing.

"What exactly did your brother say, my father said?"

She gulped. He sounded agitated. She really hadn't wanted him to be. The whole simple ordeal shouldn't have been that big of a deal. It wasn't as if he had asked for her hand in marriage. That would have been strange.

"I can't really remember, but I mean…" She sighed. She did remember. "He asked me if I had feelings for you then, he said your father would like you to eventually wed me," a few nervous peoples of muffled laughter came from her corner of the room, "Then he said that you father is certain that you have feelings for me. That's all. Nothing to drastic, or life-threatening. Sorry, though about yelling. I just really don't like the dark, it makes me…nervous I guess. Kind of lashed out back there." More muffled nervous laughter.

"I don't like you."

Her laughter stopped abruptly. "I know, I didn't accuse you of doing so." Annoyance rose up in her chest. "I, and pretty much everyone else, realizes that you don't like anyone. You have to focus on Honey-senpai. It makes sense."

"I didn't say you accused me of anything."

"Sorry," she huffed. His tone was so condescending, it was almost painful. "Didn't mean to say that." She sighed, sinking down to the floor, hoping the door would be opened soon.

Welp, Mori was a bit sassy, and rude. As was Flora. I know he's a bit out of character, but give me a little slack he's angry and upset with his dad right now, and being angry and upset makes you lash out a little even when you are mega-always-chill guy. Anyway, only 8 more chapters now, and I have all of them laid out, so they'll probably come a soon. To give a little preview of it I can tell you that we'll be fleshing out a female friendship that Flora is going to have Tomoyo. (Remember her? Cuz I barely do). And...yeah, so read on people if you like it, and review! Oh, and if you would like in the next one, I was thinking of having a little actual preview of the next chapter if that sounds good? I don't know, tell me what you think!