Author Notes: I am so happy that everyone's enjoying the story so far! I know many of you expressed sadness in the story coming to an end. However, the end is only the beginning with the story being a part of a series featuring the girls that are important to the host club. I am having a lot of fun working on this series as many of the girls featured in the story are really fun to work with as a lot of my friends allowed me to use their characters. I hope that all of you will continue to follow the story as it begins on its journey to completion. This next chapter will continue with the Iron Chef High School edition competition as we follow up with the previous chapter's events. Grab a cup of commoner's coffee, and a slice of cake as we dive into the next chapter!

Disclaimer: Go back to the previous chapters to read it.

Recipe 20: Special Tied Combo

Romey carefully snuck over to the Saint Lobelia team's kitchen, she could hear them quietly speaking of how they planned to beat the other teams. The thing that made her almost attack Chizuru was how she referred to Kaoru as a subpar chef. She held back her urge to strike back and managed to get to the trash bin. She looked inside and saw the to go containers. She looked down at the label on it and narrowed her eyes.

Saint Lobelia gourmet café special: Beef Wellington.

She slipped the container under her apron and crawled away to reach the kitchen area for the Ouran team so to alert Kaoru of what was going on. She could hear him yelling to Renge and Momoka to help him with finishing the main course for judging.

"Well well, look what we have Suzuran."

Romey froze at the voices and looked up at the sight of the Lobelia Team staring down at her. She held her breath and remained silent.

"We have a spy in our midst." Chizuru noted with a small smirk. "What are you doing here? Tired of helping that hopeless man?"

"No, I am just err…" Romey began thinking of an excuse but quickly yelped out when Benio reached under her apron and pulled out the container. "Give that back!"

"Now, now maiden we cannot have you taking this to your team." Benio leaned forward and smirked. "We wouldn't want your head chef to tell on us."

"You're cheating!" Romey cried hoping that someone would hear her. "You can't just cheat and expect to win."

"Oh yes we can." Hinako looked at Benio. "Should we punish her Benibara?"

Benio nodded and lifted Romey over her shoulder as she carried the girl towards the exit of the studio. "I'll take care of her."

Romey began kicking to get away only for her shoe to fall off on the floor as she was carried off. She let out a loud scream. "KAORU!"

"Plate that dish." Kaoru ordered and rushed to go find the right wine to serve with it. He then stopped in his track and noticed that Romey was missing. "Where's Romey?"

"Romey's err…" Renge looked around as she plated the dish. "She was over there and now she's missing."

"Damn it…" Kaoru sighed running a hand through his hair and merely forgot about the wine. He needed to find Romey. He wasn't sure if she was somewhere alone suffering from nervousness about the cameras. "Renge and Momoka take that over to the judges when the time is done."

"But Kaoru what about-?"

"I need to find Romey." Kaoru knew he was probably going to lose points for leaving the kitchen area but he needed to find Romey. She was the only other person that believed in him. She was his good luck charm as well. As he walked down the rows of kitchens he took note of a small shoe laying on the floor in the Saint Lobelia kitchen area. It was Romey's. Something had happened to her and he needed to find her. To hell with winning!

"Looking for something?" asked Hinako with a small smile leaning against the counter. "You look so lost Ouran boy."

"What did you do with Romey?" Kaoru asked.

"Who is Romey?" Hinako asked pretending that she didn't know who Kaoru was talking about. "Is that the name of your favorite spatula?"

"You know damn well who she is!" Kaoru glared daggers at her and walked closer. "What did you do to her?"

"Oh…err help Benibara-sama!" She cried.

Benio walked over and glared at Kaoru. "What are you doing over here?" she asked. "Came to watch as we maidens prepare a superior meal?"

"You've done something to my girlfriend!" Kaoru shouted holding Romey's shoe in his hand. "I found this over on your side!"

"What a cute little shoe," Benio noted. "But no we haven't seen your girlfriend. Maybe she ran away."

"Romey wouldn't run away." Kaoru held back his anger. "Damn it!"

"What's going on?" the announcer walked over to keep the two teams apart. "Chef Hitachiin what's wrong?"

"One of my assistants are missing," Kaoru explained and held up Romey's shoe. "I found this on their side and I…well I think they have something to do with her disappearance."

"We do not." Benio glared at Kaoru. "He's only saying that because he and his club mates have a history with us."

"Please return to your station." The announcer told Kaoru.

"But…fine." Kaoru sighed and went back to the kitchen area. He couldn't believe that Romey had turned up missing and he couldn't go find her. He finally did the only thing he could…he pulled out his cell phone and texted Hikaru.

Up in the audience Hikaru picked up his phone and he looked down at it. His face darkened and he looked at the others.

"What's wrong Hika-chan?" Honey asked. "You look really angry."

"Something's happened." Hikaru simply explained. "Kaoru needs us."

"She just disappeared?"

Kaoru nodded after explaining what happened to Romey and showed them the shoe he found. "Romey wouldn't leave like that." He ran a hand through his hair in worry. "And I can't go find her because if I leave the studio…I'll be disqualified."

"What do you want us to do?" Tamaki asked.

"I need…. Hikaru's help." He looked at his brother. "Hikaru I know you probably will hate me for asking but can I…can I borrow your clothes?"

"WHAT?!" Hikaru cried. "Why in the hell would you want to do that?"

"I need to find Romey."

"But I don't know how to cook!" Hikaru cried. "And what if I burn down the studio if I try to do it?!"

"Hikaru, the dish is prepared and I just need someone to stand in my place during the judging." Kaoru's hands began shaking. "I need to find Romey."

"Well…" Hikaru nodded. "Fine…but how are you going to explain the missing teammate? I mean you only have two."

"That's where I need Haruhi."

"My help?"

"I can't believe I'm wearing this…" Haruhi mumbled tugging on the large poufy skirt. She had been forced into the same uniform as Renge and Momoka but hers was in a dark red with her name sewn on in golden lettering. Her hair had been styled in a simple wavy bob and a small heart shaped hair clip held her bangs back.

"It's for Kaoru's sake." Hikaru reminded Haruhi. Though he was uncomfortable wearing the chef's uniform. It was a little tight as Kaoru was thinner than he was. "I hope he finds the intruder soon."

"Still can't call her by her name can you?" Haruhi asked.

Hikaru shook his head and pretended to chop vegetables as he often watched Kaoru do. He really didn't want to discuss anything pertaining to his brother's relationship or that girl.

"Romey!" Kaoru called running down the hallway of the studio trying to find the missing girl. He had checked in many places but was unable to locate her. He rounded the corner and came across an open door. "What in the…?"

"May I help you?" A girl wearing large glasses with her hair pulled in two buns resembling cinnamon rolls noticed Kaoru looking into the door. "Is there something you need?"

"I need help," Kaoru walked over to the girl. "I am looking for someone, her name's Romey and well she's missing."

"Romey's missing!?" The girl cried but quickly calmed down. "Oh err…that's unfortunate. If you want, I can ask Miss Mitski to mention it during her performance."

"Wait…Miss Mitski is here?" Kaoru asked. "I could use her help maybe she can help me search, I am a good friend of hers…well my friend Kyouya is."

"I'll go get her." The girl shut the door so Kaoru couldn't come into the room and a few minutes later Miss Mitski opened the door.

"Mitski, I need help."

"I heard about what happened from my assistant Anne and I'll help you find Romey." Miss Mitski shut the dressing room door and smiled. "Come on we'll comb through this studio thoroughly."

The hosts searched high and low for Romey until they remet in front of the Iron Chef studio. They all had ran out of places to look. Kaoru leaned against the wall.

"Where could she be?" he whispered and slid down the wall with his head in his hands. "She disappeared without a trace."

"Kaoru please don't give up," Mitski placed a hand on his shoulder and smiled softly. "She has to be nearby…maybe we missed a place to look?"

"But we checked everywhere." Kaoru began groaning. "If Romey's missing or hurt…I'd never forgive myself for dragging her here with me."

"She's fine." Mitski promised. "I have a feeling that she's somewhere that we haven't looked yet."

"Mitski's right." Kyouya spoke up. "Maybe Miss Meyer's decided to take a break outside? She was nervous earlier."

"I looked out there."

"Hey, what about…calling her phone?" Sally suggested. "If she does that and hear her phone ringing then maybe she could tell us where she is?"

"Her phone! Right!" Kaoru quickly dialed Romey's number and listened carefully in case he heard ringing. "Please…please pick up."

The sound of ringing echoed throughout the hallway as they looked towards the large door that seemed to have appeared.

"There!" Tamaki called pointing to the door.

Kaoru ran over to the door and began pulling on it to open it. "It's locked."

"Oh for fuck's sake." China walked towards the door and pulled out a hairpin from her hair and began picking the lock. "Chef leave this to the professionals."

Once the lock clicked Kaoru opened the door and sure enough he found Romey in the corner of the closet curled up.

"Romey!"

Romey didn't move or respond as she remained curled up in the corner.

"Romey, answer me please." Kaoru pulled her into his arms and held her close. He kissed her gently on the forehead. "Please Romey talk to me."

Romey looked up at Kaoru. "Kaoru-dear…"

"Are you ok?" Kaoru asked softly wiping the stray tears that fell down Romey's face. "It's ok…I'm here."

"Kaoru…we need to stop the Saint Lobelia team." Romey whispered hanging onto him. "They're cheating."

"Cheating?"

"Yes, they're cheating." Romey whispered. "They're using premade food and passing it off as their own…I tried to get evidence but they stopped me."
"Then we need to expose them as cheaters." Kaoru stood up and held Romey close. "We'll go let the judges know."

"But how?" Romey asked. "If anything I bet the Lobelia team disposed of the evidence."

"Then we'll get it back." Kaoru walked out of the closet holding Romey close. He looked at his friends. "Everyone we need to find the evidence of the Lobelia team cheating."

"How are we going to do that?" Honey asked. "We don't know where they take the trash they take out of the studio."

"They throw it out back." Mitski explained. "We'll need to get out there before they take it to an incinerator."

"So we're dumpster diving?" Sally asked with a small smirk. "This should be amusing, rich boys wading through trash."

"We have to do this for the sake of the competition…. I'll go switch with Hikaru." Kaoru headed back into the studio to go get Hikaru.

"Well let's go." Tamaki shuddered at the idea of dumpster diving but it was for the good of the club.

"So this is it?"

The hosts all looked at the large dumpster that had many different bags of trash and a few things that weren't in bags.

"I'll go in first." Mitski removed her shoes and climbed up onto the dumpster. She was just about to jump in when Kyouya grabbed her. "Huh? What's wrong?"

"Let me do it." Kyouya sat her down on the ground. "You can't risk getting dirty and…well we don't know what's in there."

"I'll be fine." Mitski reassured him.

"Please let me." Kyouya removed his shoes and jacket as he jumped into the dumpster. He held back his urge to jump back out but he began sifting through the trash to find the one that belonged to Saint Lobelia's team.

"Kyouya do you see anything?" Tamaki called and removed his shoes as he climbed in as well and started looking.

"Hey that looks fun," Honey quickly took his shoes off and jumped into the dumpster. "Takashi join us! We need more eyes!"

Mori sighed and took his shoes off and jumped into the dumpster to help them look. He visibly shuddered at the feeling of the trash on his feet and the liquids soaking through his socks.

"Girls we need to help them." Mitski said. "I know it's disgusting but we need to find that bag."

"Mitski-Chan are you sure?" Mimi asked. "The boys will be mad at us if we go in there and get dirty too."

"We have no choice and I don't give a fuck if Rene gets mad at me." Sally removed her shoes and jumped into the dumpster to help the hosts look.

"Seriously…" China rolled her eyes as she joined the others in the dumpster. She began looking around for the bag.

"I don't see it here," Ren stepped over a larger bag hoping to avoid her feet from touching more of the garbage. "This is so disgusting."

"I hope the garbage collection crew didn't come to collect it already," Honey noticed Ren was shudder. "Ren-chan…you should get out of here."

"I'm fine."

"Hey isn't that the bag there?" Mimi asked pointing the bag sitting outside the dumpster.

"It is…oh god why did we jump in here?!" China wailed and quickly climbed out. She shuddered at how dirty she had gotten. "I need hot water!"

"We found the bag but…we can't take it to Kaoru." Kyouya mumbled. "We're less than…clean and I doubt anyone would want to be near us."

"We should shower and change clothes."

"We can't just go home."

"We have no choice." Kyouya shuddered. "Mitski can you get that container to Kaoru?"

"Of course." Mitski took the container.

"And one more thing." Kyouya leaned over and kissed her on the forehead. "That's for good luck."

"Thanks." Mitski ran into the studio with Mimi following her closely.

"You seriously kissed her?" Sally poked him in the side with her elbow. "You're so bold!"

"Not another word Miss Moore."

Miss Mitski ran into the studio to reach the judge's table only to be stopped by a security guard. "Excuse me sir but I need to get through."

"Sorry young lady but you're not permitted here." The guard said. "So please go back to your seat ok?"

"Excuse me but I am Miss Mitski, an idol."

"I don't care who you are but you cannot enter the stage." The security guard said. "Now go back to your seat or else I'll have to remove you."

"You big bully!" Mitski cried as she stomped on the guard's foot and tossed the container to Mimi. "Go Mimi!"

Mimi nodded and ran past the guard who was jumping up and down holding his foot in pain. "Judges-sans!" she cried out making it to the table. "There is…there is…"

"Who are you?" Asked Ryuuichi.

"My name's Mimi, and there is something you need to know." Mimi held up the container. "This is a container which had food in it that was premade."

"Why would we care about that?" asked Chef Ito. "It's empty."

"The Saint Lobelia team is cheating." Mimi explained. "They also kidnapped my friend from the Ouran Team because she found out about it."

"Premade food…"

"They're cheating." Mimi insisted. "They're trying to win by cheating and it's unfair cause Kao-Chan is working hard and he will be sad if he loses to cheaters."

The judges looked at one another before speaking to each other quietly. Ryuuichi then got up and went to talk to the announcer.

"The Saint Lobelia team has been disqualified." The announcer said to the audience. "For using premade food. I am very sorry ladies and gentleman but this means they're out."

"WHAT?!" Cried Chizuru in fury and she noticed Mimi and Miss Mitski. "YOU BITCHES!" She ran over to attack the two girls.

Mimi jumped into the air and kicked Chizuru. "Don't be mad at us." She snapped. "Cheating is wrong!"

"Security escort the Saint Lobelia team from the building. The announcer ordered.

Three security guards ran over to where the girls were and began dragging them out of the studio kicking and screaming.

"With two teams left after an incident with cheating, we shall continue with the completion and judging." The announcer said. "Chefs present your dishes to the judges."

Kaoru picked up the plate and nervously walked over to the table. He noticed that Chef Ryuuichi had once again gotten his dish. He ran a hand through his hair and nervously tugged at his collar. He hoped he had done his best again.

"Chef Mamoru Ito, what's your judgement on Higarashi High's dish?" the announcer asked.

"First I'd like to compliment both teams on maintaining professionalism during this whole competition." Mamoru said simply. "And that I am proud that they relied on their skills and not using sneaky tactics."

The audience applauded at those words and showed some appreciation of the remaining teams staying true to showing off their skills rather than cheating.

Mamoru then tried the dish prepared by Higarashi High's team. He took a moment to savor the flavors. "Impeccable taste, I believe the hint of nutmeg brings out the flavor even more than usual and I see you've done to add more to your presentation."

"Twenty points for Higarashi high," the announcer said with a small smile. "And now it's time for the dish from Ouran Academy's team. Please proceed Chef Shido."

Ryuuichi looked at the dish a long moment. "The presentation is very nice and I see a lot of work went into presentation." He cut into the meatloaf and looked at it closely. "Evenly prepared with no pinkness that most meatloaves have."

Kaoru breathed a sigh of relief and kept himself calm in case he needed to explain his dish. He looked over his shoulder at his teammates. He was proud of them and even if they didn't win, they worked well together.

"And I see there are some flaws in the dish," Ryuuichi looked up at Kaoru. "Chef Hitachiin what did you use in the meatloaf for flavoring?"

"I just…" Kaoru fell silent trying to remember. "I used a special sauce I made to go on top of it and when I baked it I guess it soaked into it."

"Uh-huh," Ryuuichi finally tried the meatloaf, his eyes widened at the taste, a blend of flavors danced upon his pallet and he slowly felt himself be transported back to childhood when he'd eat meals prepared by his favorite chef. He sat the fork and knife down onto the table. "Chef Hitachiin's dish is a blend of nostalgia and holds something more than just flavoring…it holds love in it."

Kaoru's eyes widened at the words and he nearly lost all feeling in his legs.

"Chef Hitachiin's dish is superior." Ryuuichi stated.

"That's twenty-five points for Ouran Academy's team." The announcer called as the score changed. He looked over at the board. "And it's a tie between Higarashi high and Ouran Academy! The final challenge in the event of a tie is everyone's favorite part of a meal…desert!"

"Desert?!"

"Chefs return to your kitchens and prepare the tie breaking dish to decide on a winner!" The announcer called.

"We weren't prepared for desert!" cried both teams.

"We'll give all of you an hour to gather ingredients and then return to the studio for the final dish!" The announcer called. "We'll be back at six thirty for the final round! And now for the local news."

After the cameras stopped rolling both teams looked at one another in an almost unspoken challenge and took off towards their kitchens to gather their teammates.

"Kaoru what are you going to do?" asked Renge. "You hadn't thought of making a desert for the competition."

"I have one thing I can do," Kaoru looked at his team. "We're going to prepare Maple crunch ice cream."

"Isn't that Hikaru-san's favorite?" Romey asked.

"Yes, I am going to serve a dish I've been making since I was ten," Kaoru smiled softly. "But I'll need my ice cream making tools."

End Chapter

Author Notes: Ok this will be a four-part episode since I hadn't originally planned for a tie between teams but I thought it'd add more excitement and add one more recipe for Kaoru to prepare. I haven't decided which team should win so I have a poll up in which you the readers decide which team wins the competition. Until next time I shall see you in the next chapter!