A/N: I hope everyone had a wonderful Christmas and New Year. If you haven't seen them, both holiday stories have been completed: New Year's for Mori/Haruhi and Christmas for Kyoya/Haruhi. For this story, I think Megumi is making several assumptions about Haruhi and her relationship with the hosts and her boyfriend, not to mention how close our hosts can get with a commoner. Enjoy the new chapter. We are starting to take Megumi down! Oh and for those curious about it, you haven't seen the last of Kame Abe, but I have something special up my sleeve for her.

Chapter 26 – Evidence for the Court of Hosts, Judge Kyoya Presiding

Splurging on a taxi because she couldn't wait to reach Kyoya's house, Haruhi marched up the front steps and pounded on the door. She needed to act like she was furious, and therefore decided to forego polite manners by using the doorbell. As soon as the servant answered, she demanded to speak with the third son.

Luckily the servant had been apprised of her pending arrival and warned that the brunette may not act as a lady using normal social graces. "He is in his room, Haruhi-san," the butler stated and allowed her entrance. He wasn't exactly sure what was going on, but he knew Kyoya enough to know his young master was involved in something.

Haruhi didn't stop to knock at the door leading to her friend's room and instead turned the handle and pushed open the door, barging in on her friend reading a book on his couch, "Kyoya."

"I do realize that we told you to act a certain way in your home and while you were at school, but those same rules don't apply here. So if you will, please act as if you have some sort of decorum befitting a member of the Host Club," Kyoya instructed as he put down his book and looked over his shoulder.

"You said they could have technology…"

Waving her off, he explained, "That would only apply to your home or places outside, and of course Yasuchika's house since spies had gained entrance. My home sits far enough away from the main road and up on a small hill. In order to get within range to use something like that, they would actually need to be on our property. If they tried to plant a bug, our Black Onion Squad does a clean sweep for all bugs at least once a week on alternating days, and the most current sweep happened this morning. The best they could do would be to take pictures from long range, or try to use a camera to read our lips, but as you can see, my curtains are closed and no one can see in."

She sweat dropped. Their private police force swept for bugs once a week? How? Why? Was the Ootori family really into illegal arms dealings as the rumors said? Did they have negotiations with the Yakuza? Were they into other illicit things? Her head was spinning with the possibilities. It would definitely explain how Kyoya developed his skills. Maybe he was a spy himself, like 007, or maybe he was the leader of the underworld. Did a position like Ciel Phantomhive really exist: the Queen's guard dog?

"Whatever it is your thinking, stop."

"Ah, sorry Kyoya-senpai!" Haruhi quickly made her apologies. If any of the rumors were true or if any of her errant thoughts proved to be true, she would rather not get on her friend's bad side.

"So what is this you bring me?" He gestured to the thick file in her hands.

A smile found it's way to her face as she moved forward and took a seat on the same couch, "I had lunch with Megumi Kondo today and she enlightened me on several things."

"Such as?"

"Like I'm nothing more than a charity project to you and the others, Chika has been cheating on me with Kame Abe for a few months now, the Haninozuka family doesn't want a commoner like me to taint their bloodline, Yuuta is not gay, he was just throwing a fit because he didn't want to marry the girl they picked for him, and the Haninozuka family is lower on the totem pole than the Kondo family due to Hunny-senpai and Chika's behavior and the fact they are related to the Morinozuka."

Frowning, Kyoya pushed up his glasses and commented, "She's delusional. In the grand scheme of the upper echelon, the Morinozuka are actually ranked higher than the Kondo family by quite a bit, and the behavior of the Haninozuka sons has done nothing but further their reputation as world class fighters. In fact, you could say the Suoh, Ootori, Haninozuka, Morinozuka, and Hitachiin families are six of the top families in Japan for a variety of reasons. The Kondo family cannot compare… although they have tried many times. They even offered one of their nephews to my sister as a potential wedding partner, but my father picked someone else."

"I know. Well, I didn't know the Morinozuka ranked that high, but I knew everything else was bogus. Wait… they wanted to marry into the Ootori family?"

"That cannot surprise you. If you haven't noticed many girls throw themselves at us in the hopes of catching our eye as a potential marriage partner. Does she know you didn't agree with her?"

"No, she assumes I listened to everything she said and believed it. I thought that was just because you were romancing them as hosts."

"That may very well be part of it, but they are also inspecting the merchandise."

Haruhi deadpanned, "That makes you sound like cattle."

"Make no mistake Haruhi, Chika was lucky that he found you and his parents like you. For many of us, our parents will try to arrange marriages or at least influence our marriage choices by parading potential brides in front of us."

"Now they sound like cattle."

"It is the way our society works. I may not have to endure something like an arranged marriage since I am the third son, but the possibility remains."

Tilting her head to the side, she decided something, "You won't go through with something like that."

"Excuse me? That is a big assumption on your part. If it wins me what I want in the end, I very well could."

"No. Being around Tamaki-senpai and the others changed you and opened your world. You aren't the same Kyoya I met in my first year at Ouran. You will forge your own path."

Hiding his smile, he said, "Big assumptions from someone who made it into our circle by sheer clumsiness."

She knew better than to take insult from his words because she knew him. If he would have said the same thing to her when they first met, she might have ran out of the room screaming for her life, but times had changed and she liked to believe they had grown closer over the last couple years. Besides, he was right. If she had not entered music room three and had not broken the vase, there was no way she would be sitting in Kyoya's bedroom chatting. "You may be correct about that," she snickered.

"Naturally," he smirked. "Now what did Kondo-san give you."

Passing him the file, she scooted closer in order to look over his shoulder and peruse the contents. Just as the she-monster had warned, there were several pieces of evidence that would prove everything she had told Haruhi. All the lies. Pictures of Chika kissing Kame, taking her out on dates, and holding her hand. Reports that show the Haninozuka setting up omiai for Chika, and supposed printed transcripts of conversations with Chika warning him to break up with her. Transcripts of overheard conversations between the hosts calling Haruhi a charity case and discussing how she was beneath them. There were also physical tapes of the conversations. And then there was a picture of a notebook with Yuuta's handwriting and a note saying, "I love Haruhi." Now all of this could prove Megumi's case, and for the average person, he/she might believe what he/she was seeing. It certainly would have painted everyone guilty in the eyes of the law if they were in trial, however, being around the hosts and especially Kyoya had taught her a few tricks. The pictures were doctored. It was ever so slight and hard to see, but a couple of lines in the background were off. The tapes sounded smooth for the most part, but there were a couple of choppy bits leading her to believe they had been pasted together like a jigsaw puzzle. And the note… it wasn't hard to forge something like that.

They spent well over two hours going over everything, and when they were done, Kyoya announced, "The twins do a better job with pictures than this and even I know how to cut and splice audio."

"I know," Haruhi agreed smiling.

"Well, this certainly gives us the ammunition we were looking for. Combined with your recording of the conversation over lunch and what I have obtained from the bugs Yuuta planted, I believe we are ready to kill the snake… so to speak."

"Are you sure you're not going to really kill her?"

"Haruhi, I am many things, but I would never murder someone… just ship them off to Siberia for breaking a legally binding contract."

Sweat dropping, she was almost afraid to ask, but she had to know, "Are Tamaki-senpai and the twins still in Japan?"

"Yes, and they are perfectly safe. It truly is amazing how well behaved they can be when you are not there to provoke them."

"It isn't my fault!"

"I never said it was."

"You said…"

"That they are provoked by your presence, and they are; however, as morose as everyone is with this separation, I believe it would be prudent to deal with this business quickly so that we can have a reunion."

She snickered, "Does that mean you miss me too?"

"Possibly. Now about Kondo-san, everyone should be here in about an hour to discuss the next phase of our plans."

"Everyone?"

"Yes, and that includes Yasuchika."

"Should I leave?"

"For all intents and purposes you already have."

"EH?" Had he completely lost it? She was sure she was still at Kyoya's house and she had not left since she arrived.

"A maid of your size and stature wearing a wig with your hair style dressed in a similar dress to yours got in a taxi and went to your house. She will wait there until tonight and then leave to meet up with friends at a crowded bar near campus. From there, she will change and disappear into the crowd and lose her pursuers… if there are any."

Another sweat drop, "How did you know what I would be wearing?"

Pushing up his glasses, he smirked again, "Since you came here shortly after leaving the Kondo home, you probably hadn't changed, and since you were dining with one of the elite, it was more likely than not that you were wearing one of the dresses Hikaru and Kaoru made for you. In case something like this happened, I had them deliver the same dresses to me here last week. We had a maid on staff that from the distance could pass for your double. The twins provided me with a wig matching your hairstyle, and the only thing needed was for you to arrive and her to change into the dress you were wearing. I couldn't exactly ask you to wear a maid's outfit or ask you to strip out of your clothes, so this was the logical thing to do."

"Of course it was," she muttered shocked that he had gone that far. Her head snapped up, "Wait, so how am I supposed to get home if they think I already left?"

"Since they will be watching the club, you are free to leave at any time. You will leave here in a taxi and arrive home. If someone is watching your house, they will only know that you got home without an escort."

Her jaw was on the floor. Kyoya was completely devious and she could kiss him for his genius plans. She didn't go that far, but she did hug him and jumped away when she heard a voice behind her.

"I thought you were supposed to be trying to marry Yuuta now, not Kyoya," Chika said from the doorway his arms crossed over his chest and his brother and cousins lined up behind him.

She felt like she was dreaming. Her boyfriend was here and for the moment, there was nothing separating them. When he smiled at her and opened his arms, she didn't stop to think and just ran, jumping into his arms and knocking him back a couple steps. They would have probably fallen to the ground if it hadn't been for Mori. "I missed you," she beamed.

"I missed you too. I didn't think you would be here," Chika told her as he leaned down and brushed his lips against hers.

After he pulled back, Haruhi's explanation was simple, "Kyoya worked it out. Damn devious bastard." The smile never left her face.

"If you're here, does that mean we are ready to burn the witch at the stake?" Satoshi questioned.

"Why do you and Kyoya both use metaphors that include killing someone?" She asked in retaliation.

"Don't mind them Haru-Chan, they are just ready to deal with the problem… and we are all ready to have you back," Hunny grinned. He wanted to hug her, but for that to happen, his brother would have to let her go first, and he didn't think that would happen any time soon. "Chika-Chan, you might want to get her to the couch before Tama-Chan comes in. You know what he will do when he sees her, and even though we came early, Tama-Chan has a habit of arriving early too."

Chika growled, "Don't remind me." Not wanting to release her, he swept his girlfriend up in his arms and carried her over to the sitting area.

"You are earlier than I thought," Kyoya remarked.

"Takashi said we should come early," Hunny said.

Nodding, Satoshi added, "Yah, Taka-bro said he had a feeling something good would be waiting. I guess he was right."

Haruhi turned her head towards the taller man and told him, "Thank you, Mori-senpai."

"You're welcome, Haruhi. I'm glad to see you here," Mori responded. He hoped this visit would lighten everyone's spirits; of course it wasn't only a hunch that brought them early, Kyoya had sent him a text message informing him of her presence. The Shadow King had not told everyone because there was the chance they would act in a way or say something that would blow the cover story, but the wild host wasn't going to divulge that bit of information.

"I'm happy to see all of you. I've really missed everyone."

"Tamaki-senpai and Hikaru-senpai included?" Chika asked.

Laughing, Haruhi nodded, "Yes, even them and their ignorant assumptions."

"You're wearing your necklace."

"I haven't taken it off since I got it." She wanted to get up and greet her other friends, but she could do that later. Right now, she was enjoying the warmth of Chika's embrace.

The others were about to ask about the necklace, however, Tamaki and the twins burst through the door and loudly announced their arrival. And then all went quiet as they froze as still as statues upon seeing a certain brunette sitting in their kohai's lap. "Haruhi?" They questioned together.

"No, you aren't seeing things, you aren't hallucinating, and she is really here. The question though is why you are here so early?" Kyoya rolled his eyes. His hopes and dreams of a little more peace dashed and thrown out the window.

"The boss wanted to do drive-by of Haruhi's house and we lied to him about the time so that he wouldn't swing by and go dumpster diving again," Kaoru quickly answered, his eyes never leaving Haruhi.

"Tamaki, what have I said about stepping foot in her neighborhood?"

The blond seemed to snap out of his stupor and cried, "Haruhi! Daddy missed you!" He ran up to her and would have attempted to pull her out of Chika's arms, but he went flying over the back of the couch instead.

Dusting his hands off by clapping them together, Satoshi stated, "Leave her alone. I know you have missed her, but Yasuchika gets dibs."

"Mommy, did you see what he did?"

"He was within his rights. You on the other hand are out of order yet again. Do I need to deal with you personally or will you follow orders? I have no qualms about sending you to live with the penguins," Kyoya snapped.

"NO! I didn't go! We came here instead because we thought we were running late!" Tamaki was trying to defend himself in order to preserve life as he knew it.

"You are on your last leg. I already have passage booked for you on the next plane south. Do not mess up all our hard work." He pulled his attention from his best friend, wondering for the millionth time why he hadn't shipped him off yet, and said, "It appears the only person we are waiting on is Yuuta."

Smiling at the new comers, Haruhi sighed, "It's good to see all of you again. I really missed everyone."

Jumping up off the ground, Tamaki rushed to the back of the couch and wrapped Haruhi and Chika up in his arms. He would get his hug one way or another. However, he should have been smarter about it all since he wound up getting a sharp elbow to the ribs. Knocked the air out of him momentarily, but he was still living and decided it was best to release his hold on the couple.

"How is this possible?" Hikaru asked.

Kyoya adjusted his glasses, "The second wardrobe came in handy."

"All that hard work was actually useful," Kaoru snickered.

Everyone joined in his laughter, relieved that they once again had Haruhi in their midst, and when Yuuta arrived about thirty minutes later, the group was complete. Kyoya showed them everything he had gathered and what Megumi had supplied to Haruhi, as well as playing some of the pertinent recordings from the well-placed bugs. The matriarch wasn't the only one in on this farce; apparently Yuuta's father had also been conniving in the background. His cousin was Kame Abe's father, and he practically promised the girl that he would deliver Chika on a silver platter once Haruhi wed Yuuta. And his siblings weren't exactly innocent in this whole conspiracy since they helped to gather/fabricate evidence and Suzume was the one who threw the star. It was time to show the family they had messed with the wrong Host Club. The Kondo family was going down.