A/N: The poor maid was used and all because she had dreams of grandeur, but she went up against the Host Club and any time that happens, you will lose. Enjoy the new chapter!

FYI… I wanted to give all of you fair warning. I am going to be gone a good part of October. I am going to Comic Con in Virginia and will be staying with my sister for a couple weeks. About a week after I get back, I will be headed to the Mayo Clinic for a week. I will be updating, but it will be sporadic. Sorry about that, but it can't be helped. I will be back full time after I get back towards the beginning of November.

Chapter 21 – A Plant

The more they heard, the more their jaws wanted to drop, the more the ominous feeling grew. According to Choko, Megumi would stop just short of murder to break Haruhi and Chika up, and obtain the female host for her son; and there were doubts among some in the group about if she wouldn't cross the line if she needed.

Shaking her head, Haruhi had a hard time processing everything and finally said, "I'm sorry, but this is crazy. First, Yuuta is gay and not interested in girls. So he would never choose to be with me… or anyone else of the female persuasion. Secondly, there are plenty of girls out there who would be willing to go out with him and marry him. I'm not the only girl on the planet."

"She has a point Kyoya-senpai," Chika agreed and wrapped his arm around his girlfriend. He needed to feel her in his arms or else he might do something drastic, like take his frustrations out on a certain maid. Not that he would hit a girl, however, he was that close to losing it. If only he had a practice dummy available right now. The troublesome trio never looked more appealing than they did at that moment in time.

Without giving Kyoya time to answer, Choko took it upon herself to respond, "Yuuta has never shown any interest in the opposite sex, so my cousin decided since he showed even the slightest interest in you, you had to be his bride. She believes he won't reject you like he has done the others because you are his friend and she is under the assumption that she can manipulate him in order to do what she wants." She figured since she had already spilled her guts, she may as well disclose everything.

"But we are just project partners! Well, I mean we became friends, but it is nothing more than that!" Haruhi argued.

"That's not true!" Tamaki retorted. Gulping when all eyes turned on him, he further explained, "We…we know Yuuta wants more than just friendship with you!"

She wanted to face palm, yet somehow she managed to hold it in. Grabbing Chika's hand that was not wrapped around her, she squeezed it… hard. After she inhaled and exhaled a few times, counted to 30 (because 10 wasn't enough), the brunette finally addressed her friend, "How the hell do you figure?" Ok, so she wasn't as calm as she thought she was.

"The boss is right," Hikaru stood by his friend… figuratively not physically because he was still afraid to have his brains sucked through a straw.

Kyoya pushed up his glasses and pinched the bridge of his nose. He really believed they had gotten past this whole Yuuta was after Haruhi thing, but apparently he had been wrong. "Before you answer this next question, I would suggest you think about what you are saying. Be aware that you are accusing another person of an infraction that would include trying to steal someone's girlfriend. I personally know of only two people in this room that attempted such a grievous crime. And let us not forget that both of you signed agreements about making assumptions."

Hikaru and Tamaki looked terrified. Both had a feeling their short lives were about to come to an abrupt end. No one had to guess to whom Kyoya was referring, and no one wanted to point out that Yuuta was not in the room ergo he could still be guilty.

"Now I ask you, what is your solid evidence that Yuuta is interested in Haruhi as more than a friend and project partner?"

The two men glanced at each other and then sat there in silence.

"Are neither of you going to answer? Kaoru, what is the proof that they have against Yuuta?" Kyoya moved his interrogation to the younger twin.

In all honesty, they had nothing. Not one shred of proof. Everything they thought they knew were all based on assumptions. "Uh, well… they… um…"

"You don't have to answer that Kaoru!" Hikaru quickly cut in. The last thing he wanted was for his own brother to implicate him in a crime, or in this case a breach of contract.

Smirking, the Shadow King knew he had his two friends cornered, "Oh, but I do believe he does need to answer. You see, I am willing to wager that all of your evidence is circumstantial at best. Am I wrong?"

A loud gulp could be heard throughout the room.

"If I were to hazard a guess, I believe all of your evidence is based upon what you have seen or born witness to. Please, if I am wrong, correct me." Staring down his friends, Kyoya crossed his arms over his chest and continued, "Let me remind you how accurate your witness accounts truly are. Hunny-senpai and Haruhi never dated, never got engaged, and never had any relationship beyond friendship; however, you morons decided because she was helping plan a surprise party for Yasuchika, she was dating him and when he presented her with earrings, you believed it was an engagement ring. In addition, she did not get pregnant in her second year of high school and one will not show overnight, she did not date Nekozawa or have an affair with him, is not engaged now or in the past to Yasuchika, moved in with him for romantic reasons, and has not, I repeat has not moved her affections from Yasuchika to Yuuta. And if you were wondering, those were you finer moments. I have an entire file dedicated to the stupid assumptions you idiots make."

"But he pulled her into his arms," Tamaki tried to feebly argue.

"I tripped and was about to fall down the stairs. He rescued me," Haruhi grumbled. She had long ago lost count on how many times she had said that.

Hikaru attempted to defend himself next, "We saw…" He stopped catching the small shake of his brother's head. Kaoru might be right; there was no way out of this and the more they talked, the bigger the hole they dug.

"Shall I remind everyone here that Haruhi is not the most graceful when on her feet," Kyoya stated plainly.

"HEY!" The brunette felt slightly offended. Since this was Kyoya and he was… he was… well he was the Shadow King, it was best not to take anything he said too personally, but sometimes his words stung.

Adjusting his glasses again, the cool host smiled, "Do forgive me, however it is part of my evidence that Yuuta was not making a pass at you but was indeed playing hero." He studied the trio and said, "Correct me if I'm wrong, but the stairs she was about to fall down were steep and was a long staircase. If she would have fallen, she would have been seriously injured. In addition, what gentleman would allow a lady to fall if he notices her tripping?"

Tamaki and Hikaru's eyes fell anywhere but on Kyoya and Haruhi.

One last attempt was made by the princely type, "But mommy, they are always together and talking. He makes her laugh."

"As project partners, they are required to spend a certain amount of time together, and as such, they are also required to communicate. When have you ever worked on a project with someone and kept silent? Not that you can do that regardless. As for laughing, I have evidence that shows her laughing in your presence. Does that mean that you too are trying to steal her away from Yasuchika?"

"No! I would never!"

"Actually you would. You have in the past attempted such a feat, but I agree that you would never try something like that now. That being said, you three have made her laugh countless times. If we use your logic to examine each of the relationships she has with all of the hosts, we will find that each and every one of us are trying to come between her and Yasuchika with the hopes that she will turn her affections on us."

"He's right, and I would believe you three would try to steal her before Yuuta ever did," Chika growled glaring at the three offenders. Yes, Kaoru was also included because he had gone along with his brother and the former president and caused trouble as well.

During this entire exchange Choko and the heads of the Haninozuka family sat there and observed everything. They listened to what was said and while Yorihisa and Atsuko chuckled remembering everything their son and his girlfriend went through, the maid sat there astounded, her jaw dropping to the ground. Had all of this really happened?

Feeling her boyfriend's tension growing, Haruhi stood up and sat on his lap. He may not hit a girl, but she wouldn't put it past him to use the idiot three as target practice. Sitting on him was the best solution she could think of to hold him in place.

"What are you doing?" Chika questioned her, irritation lacing his voice.

"Counter measures. We need to stay focused on the problem at hand, and I don't need you running off and attacking anyone. You can play with them later."

Tamaki, Hikaru, and Kaoru sweat dropped, and then the blond whined, "You don't mean that. You would never let Yasuchika hurt daddy, right?"

"Maybe," she shrugged.

In the two older teens, their spirits started to float out of their open mouths.

"Now that they have been sufficiently dealt with, let us continue discussing our enemy," Kyoya stated with a rather bored tone and turned to face the maid once again, "What do you mean she can manipulate him?"

"I-I-I don't… I don't know," Choko stammered suddenly very afraid of the dark aura being emitted by the bespectacled teen in front of her. "I was supposed to check in a few hours ago, but since I haven't…" her voice tapered off.

Smirking, Kyoya relished causing trouble for the enemy as he said, "But you haven't because we have detained you. I believe we can let her continue to stew for a while longer, and when you do call her, you will tell her exactly what I instruct you to say."

Kondo Estate…

Up and down, back and forth. Megumi Kondo was trying to damndest to remain calm as she paced her office, but it wasn't working. Choko was late with her check in, which caused the lady of the house to constantly peer out the window to see if there were crows flying overhead*. No birds were found, and yet, her peace of mind would not come forth at their absence.

One more time. She would call her insignificant cousin one more time, and again there was no answer. Where was Choko? Megumi had called her at least half a dozen times and tried to send her messages. All of them remained unanswered.

Three hours past the check in time, and her informant had never been late before. More pacing and more time passed and still the hapless maid had not called, but then what did she expect from a commoner. Choko had no class and no right to be seen in elite circles, however, that didn't stop Megumi from making the offer… an offer she had no intention of fulfilling. Right now her only concern was to get Haruhi Fujioka away from Yasuchika Haninozuka so the girl could marry Yuuta. That is all that mattered.

With a frustrated grunt (very unladylike), she stalked over to her bar and poured herself a scotch as she grumbled, "Where the hell is she?" In her mind she started to wonder if Choko had blundered resulting in her capture.

The moment her phone rang, she flew to her desk and ripped it out of its cradle, "Yes?"

"Megumi?"

"Choko! Where the hell have you been?" Her anxiety and rage were bursting forth and she would not even attempt to quench them. This girl was nothing more than a commoner and needed to learn her place.

"I'm sorry! One of the cameras was found and we were all being questioned. I was able to throw them off the trail though. I needed to inform you that tonight Yasuchika-sama and Haruhi-san had an argument. She was told to leave and never return."

Well, well. This information was worth waiting for, "Excellent!"

"What about your promise?"

"My promise?"

"About finding me a husband."

"I'll try, but I can't guarantee anything. You are after all nothing more than a lowly house maid."

Choko gasped, sucking in a large amount of air. She had asked because she wanted to know, she wanted to believe that the hosts were wrong. "I'll… I'll tell them everything if…"

"If what?" Megumi interrupted and then sneered, "You won't say a thing. If you do, I will deny it all and say that you planted everything in order to set me up. You will lose your job and your credibility. Who will they believe, a commoner or an elite?" Laughing, she hung up the phone.

It was a slap in the face and a reality check for Choko. They had been right; her cousin had only used her. Dropping the phone, she turned tear filled eyes towards her employers and Kyoya, "She took the bait."

A/N2: * For those that are interested, in Japanese culture a flock of black birds, ravens, or crows flying overhead is a bad omen and could mean death, destruction, etc.