KYOYA'S POV

Tamaki came back to life. In his excitement he brushed by me without a passing glance. In a moment he had swept Haruhi into his arms, twirling her and chattering in full Tamaki mode. Her brilliant brown eyes smiled gently at him.

I sighed and left them to their practicing. It was probably good that Haruhi distracted Tamaki as she did. He would not have let me go so easily otherwise, and if he had read my thoughts a few moments previously, well…. One never knows how Tamaki will react, but I doubted 'Daddy' would approve.

I had never held a woman quite like that. She filled my senses, pushed away all the thoughts normally rattling about in my brain. For a few heavenly minutes it was only the feel of our tangled embrace, of her body moving with mine, of the floral scent of her hair and the rhythm of the music.

I suppose it had to end sometime, I admitted as I took a seat at the table in front of my laptop.

But it did wrench my heart when she so quickly forgot me for Tamaki. I had been walking a tightrope—trying to encourage any feelings she might have for me, but watching to see if she showed a preference for my Boss. And trying to do it all without alerting the other hosts to my suit.

Well, I hadn't any more time to waste on those notions. My efforts had to focus on arranging and finding ways to pay for the extravagant host club offerings planned for the Ouran Fair. In addition to that, my finance partners had alerted me to several swift acquisitions of upstanding Japanese companies by a foreign group. I needed to do more research, but the threat to my family's businesses seemed credible. Yes, I had plenty to occupy my mind. Hopefully enough to supplant the lingering regret of having loved and lost.

And I really hate losing.

The next couple days flew by as the entire school went into full Fair preparation mode. Thankfully I didn't have to watch Tamaki and Haruhi continue their dance lessons since the twins insisted we all submit to their tailors and have final fittings of our costumes. Mori worked tirelessly unloading boxes of pastries, cakes, and tableware. I oversaw the deliveries of casino games and confirmed our arrangements with the caterers, musicians, and others who would be helping behind the scenes.

Haruhi drifted to my side when she wasn't in demand by one of the other hosts (apparently her opinion as a female carried almost as much weight as Tamaki's). I liked having her near, almost like we were a couple, but my thoughts kept tripping over the way she interacted with Tamaki. What did he mean to her really? She had claimed at one time that they were only friends, but I wasn't able to ascertain whether that was the whole truth.

One the morning of the Fair, I stood outside waiting for Tamaki's surprise to arrive. Haruhi was at my elbow, gawking at the elaborate furnishings and decorations being brought in to the Academy buildings and the sheer volume of manpower hired to do so.

"Um, aren't school fairs supposed to be more, I don't know, homemade looking? Like we made everything on our own?" Haruhi asked me.

I marked off delivery of the last items we had ordered and closed my notebook. "You're talking about schools in general," I reminded her. "What gets emphasized at the Ouran Fair is planning and leadership. Most of the students here are expected to take key positions in business and society, so they are required to impress everyone with their strong leadership."

I heard neighing and the clip-clop of hooves as our attention was captured by an open black carriage coming our way. Hikaru, shadowed by Mori, carefully pulled two black horses to a halt on the avenue in front of us. Tamaki and Honey popped up from the carriage benches.

So, this was his big surprise. I couldn't wait to see the bill.

"Haru-chan!" Honey chanted.

Tamaki added his voice. "Climb aboard, Haruhi!" He waved his arm in a flourish. "We're rehearsing for the Ouran Fair's special parade."

Haruhi looked to me uncertainly, and I motioned for her to lead the way. At the carriage, Honey was bouncing up and down in his seat. I handed Haruhi up and into the cart, taking the seat next to her. Kaoru clambered aboard from the other side and plopped down next to Honey, where he could converse easily with his brother in the front seat. Tamaki didn't even pause to consider but sat on Haruhi's other side, pinning her small form between us. Fitting.

Hikaru snapped the reins and we watched the frenzied activity from our elevated perch. "It's kind of fun having all of us riding in a carriage like this, huh?" Honey smiled.

I heard Haruhi mumble from her cramped position, "Is it?" I crossed my arms in front of me to make room for her to wedge her shoulder in front of mine. Tamaki monopolized her attention with his enthusiasm over seeing his dreams coming to life. He was like a kid showing off new toys.

Hikaru stopped the horses to let us off in the courtyard so we could prepare for the Opening Ceremony. Exiting first, I waited to help Haruhi disembark and we headed toward the Central Building Salon, where the host club would be entertaining today. Tamaki dropped behind to flatter a gaggle of females. Parents were beginning to arrive and a small orchestra was warming up on one side of the square. They struck up a waltz, and I felt a pang in my chest. My eyes unconsciously sought Haruhi. She was looking up at me as well.

"Time to put on our poker faces-literally," Kaoru announced. "The gaming outfits are hanging on the red rack in the music room. Let me know if you need any help with yours, Haruhi," he flashed one of his devilish grins.

"I can manage just fine," she deadpanned.

Upstairs, she took her garment bag to the changing room and made several very specific and painful threats regarding what would happen to anyone who interrupted her. When she disappeared behind the curtain, we all looked at one another and burst into laughter. Her father was right—she was just too cute when she was angry.

"I heard that!" she yelled. "Get moving!" Still smirking, we took ourselves off to don our riverboat gambler outfits.

The day went well. Tamaki charmed the ladies with his flirtations while I entertained their husbands with blather about the educational benefits of exploring other customs and cultures. All of the hosts worked their magic on our regular guests and visitors alike.

Except for Haruhi. She hid herself behind a refreshment cart, bringing tea and cakes to the seating groups just as she had at Pension Misuzu. During a lull in the afternoon, she found me tallying participants and expenses on my laptop.

Taking her place by my side, she continued to survey the scene. "I have to say, this sure is a ritzy event. It's too much money to be spent on a school fair."

Yes, I'm sure it seemed wasteful to someone who hadn't been able to afford new contact lenses when the year began. But this was our world. Someday it would probably be hers. Would she still be so pragmatic then?

Tamaki appeared at her side. "What are you talking about?" he scoffed. "This is a grand campaign to show off the charm of the Ouran Host Club far and wide… throughout the world!" From the corner of my eye, I saw that he had one hand resting possessively on Haruhi's shoulder. I felt jealousy burn.

I turned in my chair to address him directly. "Haruhi's right. We overspent our budget on this." I saw her pursing her lips and removing his hand with a pinch. I continued my rant. "Never mind the cost of using this salon; you had a classic carriage flown in all the way from France."

His puppy dog eyes begged forgiveness, but my jealousy still simmered, adding irritation to my tone. "As usual, I don't know how to deal with all your capricious plans."

"Isn't that the truth?" Haruhi echoed, walking off to greet a new guest.

Tamaki protested the importance of his plans but stopped short at the arrival of a familiar figure. An attractive, middle-aged man with sandy blond hair strolled into the room as if he owned it.

Tamaki cried, "Father!" Surprise and delight lit his tone and his face as he went to meet the man.

His father's answer was sharp and conveyed in undertones not meant to carry. Tamaki looked ready to tell him off, so I stood and quickly intervened. "Welcome, Superintendent," I smiled cordially. "Come. Please take this seat over here." He accepted my direction to a fancy couch in a position of prominence next to the central fountain. His assistant stood at attention nearby. Tamaki made himself scarce.

"Kyoya-kun," he addressed me after seating himself. "This club owes everything to your management, doesn't it? My son must give you no end of trouble."

Okay, I had just been thinking along those lines myself, but he had no right to say such a thing in front of Tamaki. "Not at all," I replied smoothly. "The host club is here because of him." My voice was firm.

Heading off an extended discussion of Tamaki's faults, I asked, "Can I get you anything?"

He motioned me to come closer and made his request quietly, eyeing Haruhi. "Is that the scholarship student Tamaki speaks of so often? The one that comes to host club dressed as a boy?" At my affirmative, he asked to meet her.

My stomach roiled at the thought of what this man might say, but I had no choice but to comply. "Haruhi," I called. She glanced up from waiting on a svelte young woman I hadn't seen before. "You have a request," I told her, indicating the seat next to Tamaki's father.

I watched them interacting. He worked his charm on her almost as Tamaki might. She seemed torn between feeling flattered and being mildly repulsed. I felt a flutter of amusement.

Movement at the main door drew my attention. I began to smile and welcome the visitor, only to recognize the harsh features and shrewd gaze of my own father.