A/N: Well it looks as if someone else has spoken to Ranka about possible marriage to Haruhi. Who is it? It is possible that it is Yoshio, but it is also possible that someone else has spoken to him. If it was someone else, then who is the possible marriage prospect for Kyoya? I won't say that you will find out the answers in this chapter, but you will eventually find out everything. I promise.

Chapter 26 – Win Then Over with an Argument

A long flight had finally ended and yet the journey was just beginning. Yuuichi had gotten off of the plane and collected his luggage from baggage claim. Part of him wanted to hunt down Haruhi and meet with her right this minute, however, he knew that was not the best course of action since she was probably sitting in class instead of in her dorm room. For now he would go to the hotel and rest up because when one faced Haruhi Fujioka, it was best to be operating on all cylinders. He had learned that lesson long ago when he had somehow found himself embroiled in a debate with the brunette. It was that very night that he decided she would be perfect for his youngest brother… and that opinion had not changed throughout the time he had known her.

Chuckling quietly as he sat in the back of the waiting car, he could remember the debate vividly. Haruhi had come over with the rest of the Host Club to work on something with his little brother, and that was the first time Yuuichi had met the commoner; although, to say she was common was not an accurate depiction of the petite woman. It happened during Kyoya's third year in high school, well before the two became a couple, and without him knowing, Yuuichi found himself in the middle of a mine field.

Flashback…

It wasn't hard to miss the way the youngest Ootori gazed at the petite brunette in his company. She was the only girl among the group of men, and the first girl Yuuichi could remember his brother ever really associating with beyond his Host Club duties or social decorum. Who was this girl? From his father and other people, the eldest son knew she was a commoner who had stumbled into the Host Club by accident, and somewhere along the way, it appeared that the group had accepted her as one of their own; however, she was still a commoner in the eyes of most people. The only exception to that seemed to be the Host Club and a few other people. "You must be the Haruhi Fujioka I have heard so much about," he approached her, sizing her up, preparing to cast judgment upon her the moment she opened her mouth. Did these six men not realize that she was probably using them for her own nefarious reasons? Although they may blindly accept her, he would not allow her to tarnish the Ootori name.

Standing up, she barely came to his chest, and yet, her presence did not make her seem as small as she had a moment ago. She stared at him directly in the eye and didn't back down from the challenge she found there, having been through this more than once – and that included with his own brother. Bowing to show respect, she righted herself and cast her host smile, "It is nice to meet you. I am indeed Haruhi Fujioka." With a tilt of her head and a raise of one eyebrow, she was waiting for him to show the same curtesy.

Yuuichi wanted to laugh. Never before had his manners been so blatantly challenged. If he had slipped in the past, no one said or did anything to remind him because he was the first son of the Ootori family. He could hear the gasps escape the others in the room and knew they were worried he may do or say something to hurt her, but if they only knew. Smiling, he bowed slightly and said, "It is a pleasure to meet you. I'm Yuuichi Ootori, Kyoya's eldest brother."

"I figured as much. You look like him and I remember seeing your picture. Kyoya pointed you out along with your other brother, Akito."

"We also have a sister."

"Yes, Fuyumi. I have actually already met her a couple of times."

"I'm sure she has picked your brain about the commoner way of life and how to do mundane chores."

"She has asked me many questions, which I have tried to answer for her, but mundane? Since when are chores mundane? While I will agree they can be tiresome and are not the most exciting of tasks, but I wouldn't say they were mundane… at least not the way you imply. You make sound as if doing chores is something only certain people should do instead of everyone."

"That is why some people have maids and others do not." He really wanted to see her reaction and where she was going with this. He honestly had not meant any offense, but it was more than apparent that she had taken exception to his tone of voice and wording. The others in the group, minus Kyoya, released a small hiss, while his brother looked as if he were waiting for Haruhi to take him down a peg or two. Now this was getting interesting.

"While I agree some families are able to hire maids and other servants, it does not mean people of all ages and stations should not learn how to do simple chores. Depending on others to do everything means that you will not be able to do something for yourself when the time comes. Nothing is set in stone. What if you were one of only a handful of people left on the planet tomorrow and there were no maids or cooks, what would you do? What if all of your servants quit all of the sudden one day, what would you do? Would you be able to do your laundry, pickup after yourself, cook? If you say that you would stay home until new servants are selected, then what about your patients? You would make them suffer because of your own ineptitude? Chores may seem mundane to you, but they teach discipline, honor, responsibility, and simple skills everyone should possess." She never raised her voice, never lost her cool, and she sounded like she was discussing the weather instead of debating about chores with the person who could be the next Ootori heir.

Kyoya wanted to applaud. While he knew his brother was testing her, he had been proud of her answer, and even prouder when his brother was speechless for a moment in order to form a rebuttal. How he loved her even more in that moment, and it hurt to choke back that feeling lock it away once again.

"Interesting position. So you are saying chores will make me a better person or a better doctor?"

Crossing her arms over her chest, she smirked, "It couldn't hurt. Learning how to do chores will give you more respect for the people working for you, the people you treat, and in general, the people around you."

"Kyoya doesn't do chores."

"I beg to disagree. While he may not do them on a daily basis, he has learned to do some and even now, he would prefer putting up his own clothes if he has time."

The only sign that Yuuichi was surprised was a small lift of the eyebrow as his eyes darted to his younger brother. He had not been aware of this change in the younger man. "A result of your tutelage I am sure."

"Possibly, but it wasn't because I said or did anything to make it happen. I think it was more Fuyumi when she decided to practice on his room once again and he had to help her put everything in order… again. The maid assigned to his room was pregnant and your sister decided they would do it together so they could give the poor woman a break."

"Even pregnant, a maid should know her responsibilities."

"While I will agree with you on that point, I will say this… Is she also responsible when your sister removes everything from all of his drawers and closet in order to reorganize and practice house cleaning? I think not, and neither did your sister."

"Then Fuyumi should have handled it herself."

"I believe your brother will agree when I say, it would have just made it worse. You sister has sense learned many techniques, but at the time she had taken on a harrowing task she was not completely prepared for. Are you still suggesting that chores are beneath you?"

"I am not saying that, however, I do believe there are some people who are meant to do chores and others who are not." Again, he just wanted to see her reaction, and seeing the fire in her eyes had indeed been fun.

Her eyes briefly darted to Kyoya and then returned to his brother. Without raising her voice, she stated, "Let me present it in a different fashion for you. Let's say you became sick and needed to see a doctor. Would you want to go to one who didn't wash his hands, didn't have clean clothes, or a tidy office? Regardless if you have someone to clean your office, you still need to make notes, fill out paperwork, and complete records or you are subjecting yourself to a medical malpractice case."

"No, I would not." Just the thought of walking into a place like that made him want to shudder, but he contained it.

"Exactly. I'm not saying you should do chores every day, but learning how to do them, will benefit you in the long run. You never know when you have to do something for yourself one day. Isn't that right, Tamaki?" She had picked him because when he lived with his mother, they didn't have all the servants he did now and he had to take care of his mother; and when she wasn't up to the task, he also had to do some chores.

"Huh? Oh, yes my daughter. Daddy is so happy…" A hand to the blonde's face made him stop in his tracks and his ravings.

Dropping her hand, Haruhi smiled again, "The world could end tomorrow, and if you managed to survive the fallout, could you actually survive and know how to do… the 'mundane' tasks that would need to be done?"

He wanted to applaud his brother for finding such a rare gem. Most girls in the elite circle wouldn't know how to debate and argue their point even if their lives depended on it, let alone against someone of his standing and caliber; and this one, she knew how to hold her own and remain calm, cool, and collected about it, and she didn't care one iota about who he was or what he could do to her. She was interesting, he would give her that, and perfect for his little brother. Kyoya needed someone who would challenge him and not give in to his every whim. He needed someone who would stand up for herself and not let him steamroll her. And he needed someone who didn't want him just for his family name, someone would support him and encourage him because the way Yuuichi saw it, Kyoya should be the next heir. He had the drive and desire Yuuichi didn't, and Akito never would. The little brother he once looked upon as a rival had become the whole package and someone the eldest son was proud to call his brother.

Smiling, Yuuichi bowed his head, "I will concede your point. Well done, Haruhi Fujioka."

She blinked once and then once more, "Eh?"

"Not a very ladylike response. I would have thought hanging around these buffoons, you would have learned better manners. I am saying you won."

"Oh. Um, thank you?"

"She still has not concept of herself and how others see her, does she?" Hikaru whispered to his brother and received as an answer a shake of his head.

End flashback…

Yuuichi believed she would make Kyoya the perfect partner then, and he still felt that way today. Ignoring the file his father gave him (he never even opened it to look at its contents), he sat in a restaurant that evening waiting for Haruhi to arrive. When his brother had told him the brunette had agreed to go out with him, he had been overjoyed for Kyoya; and when his brother had told them that they had broken up, he felt ashamed for is sibling. Now the couple had this rare second chance, and Yuuichi would make sure no one screwed it up for them… not even his father.

Haruhi had felt nervous receiving the call from the eldest Ootori son, but had agreed to go out to dinner with him remember he had been one of her and Kyoya's supporters in the past. She could only hope he still was. Meeting him, caused butterflies, and sitting down opposite of him made her stomach feel like those butterflies were doing the tango. "Good evening, Yuuichi-san," she greeted him quietly.

"Good evening. I have to say Haruhi, I expected a better welcome than that. Shall we have a debate on what fork to use for dinner and the benefits of not having so much cutlery to make you feel more at ease?"

She tried to hold it in, but soon the giggles escaped and she suddenly felt calmer. Taking a deep breath and releasing it, she smiled at him and said, "Maybe we should. So what do I owe the pleasure? Something tells me you didn't fly here just for business."

"I didn't," he answered truthfully. A waiter appeared to take their drink and appetizer order, and after he left, he gave her a hard stare and told her, "My father sent me here, and I came to see what it is you truly want. If you want to be with Kyoya, I will support you, but if you are unsure about him or anything else, walk away. My father has something planned, and if there is even an ounce of uncertainty in your heart, you will lose. I don't say this to be mean or to dissuade you, I say this because I think you are perfect for my brother, but I know how my father can be."

"There is no doubt. Kyoya is the only one I have ever wanted to spend forever with. I trust him, and although I might have had some issues after we first reconciled, I know I love him and trust him with everything I have. If I didn't, I couldn't make it through each day that has passed since your father came and ordered him home."

"Excellent. Now, I will help you as much as possible. Just know that Kyoya is working for you and your future together."

A smile touched her lips as she agreed, "I know he is."