A/N: So sorry about the long wait, you guys. Between getting laid off from my job (the way they did it killed my self-esteem and confidence) and the subsequent depression, I haven't had much of a creative streak lately. I know this is a short chapter but that's mostly because I couldn't figure out where the break should be. The next chapter and the one after that will be more substantial. Thank you to everyone who has been patient with me, who has left reviews that I desperately needed to hear at the time. It helped me gain back some of the confidence I lost and I greatly appreciate that.

The Twins' Invitation

When he deposited her on her bed, all her assassin friends clambered onto it, forcing her Host Club boys to find other spots around the room and leaving them more than a little disgruntled.

"You okay, Haru?" Karma asked, worried. She smiled gently at him, though wincing when she tried to sit up. He was quick to assist and Nakamura placed some pillows behind her.

"Guys, I'll be fine. We've been through worse." She was even breathing a lot easier. Looking around the room, she couldn't help but smiling though. They were her closest friends. And they were all worried about her, wanting to help but not knowing how. Taking pity on some of them, she started directing requests, just to give them something to do, almost like she was strategizing again.

"If it helps, Hika, Kao, I could use some water, if you don't mind. Professor Bitch, would you mind telling Karasama we're a go? He'll know what it means. Kyouya-senpai, if you could rebandage my ear, I'd be grateful. I think I felt it loosen on the way up the stairs and it's kind of hard to do it myself with this," she indicated her wrapped wrist. "Kayano, could you pull my hair back so he can check it out?"

Each of them set about their tasks with a sigh of relief. That was exactly what they needed before the doctor arrived. As Kyouya's fingers ghosted over her ear and around that side of her neck, she sipped on her water and watched.

Kanzaki had moved to look out the window at the beach below and Mori had come to stand beside her instead of guarding Haruhi. Interesting, considering he had been her guard all day. Perhaps he felt guilty for allowing Tamaki to slip past him, maybe her denying his help made him feel worse. But the way he stared at her friend out of the corner of his eye told a different story.

The twins were showing Itona a new game they had been working on while he gave them some advice on hardware. Terasaka and Karma were close by, keeping their eyes on her and making sure nothing else happened. Irina stood in a corner, talking quietly on her phone, she seemed distressed and more subdued than before. Haruhi guessed Karasama was either telling her their target or keeping her in the dark. Nakamura was talking with Kayano, something that made them both snicker and glance at her before they noticed she was watching. When she raised an eyebrow at them, they only snickered more. She decided she didn't want to know. She assumed Okuda was still downstairs trying to revive Tamaki.

"Done." Kyouya interrupted her musings, "you were correct. The bandage had slipped."

"Thanks, senpai." She gave him a gentle smile before turning to the rest. "Sorry you guys probably aren't having much fun. I wish we could have met again under better circumstances." She gestured to her injured body, annoyed. She had been looking forward to maybe hanging out with her old friends again if she could. She'd missed them. But, of course, the moment she's incapacitated is when they all come around.

"Are you kidding?! I haven't had this much fun all year!" Terasaka stated from the foot of her bed.

"Same here, Haruhi. I've missed you. I've missed this," said Kanzaki from the window.

"I think we all have," continued Itona quietly. "I don't know about the rest of you but I'm the only one from our class at my high school. It has a great technology program, don't get me wrong, but everything else has been pretty boring."

"Well, I can't say the same there," Haruhi said, laying her eyes on each of her Host Club boys and ending with Tamaki who just walked in supported by Okuda and Honey who followed them. "But I've missed you guys so much. I've wanted to hang out so often this year but between studying and then the Host Club, I just haven't been able to meet up with you all. I hate having to turn down the invites but-"

"Don't worry about it, Haru, we understand. Not all of us can meet up at the same time. We all have our own stuff now. Hell, maybe a third of our class is even here now. Yeah it would have been fun to kick Terasaka's ass again but it's just not meant to happen this time." She smiled at Karma. He was always the best at making her feel better.

"Hey watch it, pretty boy. I may not win but I'll sure as hell give you a run for your money." Terasaka growled, causing Haruhi to giggle. Their antics never changed.

"It has been fun getting to know Haru-chan's friends." Honey said, sitting on the edge of her bed.

"You know, we've got two more days of vacation and plenty of rooms," Kaoru started.

"Does anyone want to stick around and hang out longer?" Hikaru finished. Haruhi's eyes widened as she gasped. Did they really just make that offer? The twins everyone had said were so shut off from the rest of the world…just opened their home up to people they had only met that day?

She looked around the room at the other Hosts. Apparently, she was not the only one caught by surprise. Honey's eyes and grin were as wide as she'd ever seen them. Tamaki looked sincerely proud. Kyouya, who had moved over to the balcony doors, glanced up at them from his phone. Even Mori was giving them both a small smile of approval. The twins noticed the looks they were given and simply shrugged like it was no big deal.

"Tempting, but I'm gonna pass. I need to get back to the office and talk to Tadaomi. He's got this new assignment that I'm not so thrilled about." Irina laid her eyes on Karma, Nagisa, and Haruhi before walking out the door. Just before she passed through, she turned her head. "It was nice to see you again, Haruhi. I'm glad you're doing well."

"It was nice to see you too, Miss Irina." The blonde closed her eyes and smiled shyly before leaving the group.

"Well, you know I'll take you up on that offer," Karma smirked.

"Yeah, we figured." The twins chuckled.

"I'll stay." Itona said.

"I'm in. I'll even sleep in Haruhi's room if she's okay with that."

"Thanks, Yukiko, I'd love that." Haruhi replied, beaming.

"Count me in, too. I've missed our quality girl time," Nakamura winked.

"Oooh, girl time? I'm so there!" Kayano fist pumped.

"I'll join too if that's okay, but I can only stay tonight. I'll have to go home tomorrow," Okuda said, softly.

"Let me ask my mom real quick." Nagisa jumped on his phone.

"Sounds awesome! I'm stayin'." Terasaka grinned. "No gettin' out of it now Karma, as soon as Haruhi's checked out, it's gonna be you an' me deckin' it out on the beach."

"Where is that doctor anyway, Kyouya-senpai?" Kaoru asked.

"It looked like the boss hurt Haruhi pretty bad." Hikaru continued. They both leered at Tamaki who paled.

"I'll call again. He should have been here by now. Of course, we wouldn't need him at all if our illustrious leader could control himself." Kyouya sneered.

"Mommy?" The second year squeaked.

"You hurt Haru-chan?" Honey asked with false innocence.

"We-well, not exactly…" Tamaki quailed.

"Glomped." Mori grunted.

"Y-you too, Mori-senpai?" He nodded.

"Eeep!"

"Come on you guys, knock it off." Haruhi rolled her eyes before smirking. "Besides, it's not as if this is anything new. Let's face it, he can't keep his hands off me." As Tamaki fell to the floor soulless, the twins and Karma fell laughing. The girls all giggled and Terasaka and Itona laughed but at least remained upright. The former probably because he was still sitting on her bed.

"Perhaps we should designate you the new 'little devil' type." Kyouya mused, snickering. "You seem to have a knack for it."

"No way, senpai. He'd end up having a heart attack if I started acting like the twins. Besides, my guests come to me for conversation, not some silly act. If I suddenly turned into a 'little devil', I'd lose guests and that would affect the bottom line." That sobered the twins up and they surrounded her.

"What's this?" Hikaru asked.

"I don't know, brother. But it sounds as if," Kaoru continued, leaning closer.

"Haruhi's thinking like Kyouya-senpai."

"So what? I've picked up habits from all of you. It happens when you spend enough time around here."

"Whatever you say, Shadow Princess." They smirked as they walked back towards Itona, leaving Haruhi glaring. A knock at the door brought their attention to a nervous-looking maid.

"Excuse me, young masters, but there is a doctor here to see Mistress Haruhi."

"Send him up," Kyouya said, waving his hand in her direction, not even looking at her. "Everyone, let us vacate the room before Haruhi has the urge to retaliate." She stuck her tongue out at his back as he herded the group out the door.

"I saw that." He chuckled inwardly as he listened to her grumbling and closed the door. In truth, he was quite pleased by the nickname. 'Shadow princess, hmm? Now that, I could get used to hearing.'