A/N: I know… my inner mind theatre is a little out there sometimes. This latest one I chalk up to the fact that I was working on this story and watching a show about medieval times. LOL. I was excited to read all of your reviews for the last chapter. The newspaper club has learned their lesson and is no longer the enemy; well, all but one isn't the enemy. Ok, for Kyoya's assumptions for chapter 33: first he assumed that Tamaki was waiting for him outside when he was really waiting on Kameko, and second he is assuming that everything is the potion's fault and he will be rid of Kameko after the antidote is at full strength. Kyoya may or may not be rid of her, only time is going to tell that one, but it appears Tamaki is starting to get to her. Enjoy the new chapter!

PS… my computer has been fixed and now the updates will be coming regularly again! I love my lil sister!

PPS... Chapter 2 of Ouran for Dummies has been posted on CyraAngel. Go and check it out. XD

Chapter 36 – The Setup

It didn't take long for Ukyou to give Kyoya a copy of the finished story. Actually it was presented to the Shadow King the next morning. The editor had been up most of the night working on it so that he could get it finished and approval received. He wanted it to be the feature in the next publication.

Handing the folder that contained his latest article to Kyoya, Ukyou spoke in hushed tones, "For your review Ootori-san."

"It is already finished?" The Host Club's vice president inquired. He wasn't expecting to see the editor waiting for him before first period, but he couldn't argue that was efficient.

"Hai! I have included three copies of the story: one for each of you. I will leave it up to you to get it to Haruhi-kun and Haninozuka-kun. As agreed, Kameko's article has been pulled and she will not be informed of the change until everything is back from the publishers. If there are any problems with this, please let me know at once," Ukyou bowed and walked down the hall to his own classroom.

Kyoya walked into his classroom and set his bag and the folder on his desk, but before he could do anything else, a pair of arms encircled him and squeezed. He knew immediately knew it was: Tamaki. Growling, he elbowed his best friend in the gut, "What do you think you are doing?"

"Isn't it a beautiful day outside Kyoya?" Tamaki hummed ignoring the fact he was just hit in his stomach.

"Why is it so beautiful?" Kyoya started to unpack his essentials for class that morning.

"Our daughter talked to me yesterday, Kameko allowed me to escort her home, and this morning she let me kiss her."

Eyes growing, the vice president spun around to face his friend. There was no way that Tamaki was actually falling for Kameko for real, was he? "What do you mean she allowed you to kiss her?" He questioned hoping that his voice had remained neutral.

"What? We have kissed before, although not very much. Last night though, she leaned in and kissed me instead of me kissing her!"

Nekozawa had informed Kyoya that the antidote was slow acting, but it seemed as if Tamaki was still very much in love with Kameko; and if what his best friend said was true, did this mean that Kameko was actually starting to place some of her affections on Tamaki? He told himself to breathe and calm down. This could be another ploy from the first year to make sure she kept what she assumed was the upper hand. If she only knew how much she was not in charge of everything, she thought she could rule Ouran High School with her words and underhanded tricks, but the Shadow King was the one really in charge of so many things, "That is wonderful Tamaki. I am happy to see things are going so well for you."

"Me too! I can't believe I fell in love with one of our customers, but still…"

"But still?"

"Well, I don't know what it is. I love spending time with her and she is a wonderful girl, but my urge to be around her all of the time has settled some. I guess we are getting used to each other," Tamaki chuckled and rubbed the back of his head.

Kyoya mentally swiped his brow. It appeared that the antidote was indeed working, "I am sure that is all there is. As for Haruhi talking to you yesterday, she yelled at you for glomping her and then Yasuchika had to knock you out to release her."

Beaming, Tamaki replied, "Yes, but before that she spoke to me."

Deadpanning, Kyoya decided he would never understand his half French best friend. There was no possible way to explain how Tamaki's mind worked. Pushing up his glasses, he took his seat, "I see. I suggest you take your seat, sensei will be in here any moment now." As soon as Tamaki left him, he made a mental note to talk to Nekozawa about the long term effects of the potion. He then pulled out the article to read it. It was well written and reported the facts; all in all, he found no issues with the article and believed that Chika and Haruhi would be in agreement. It was definitely more accurate and informative than Kameko's article about Haruhi.

It was between second and third period that Kyoya was able to hand over a copy of the article to both Haruhi and Chika. They were both anxious to read it, and he knew they were prepared to rip it to shreds. They wouldn't be able to though because it was nothing but the truth.

As soon as Haruhi walked back into the classroom from speaking to Kyoya, the twins pounced on her… well actually Hikaru was the only one pouncing, "What did Kyoya-senpai want?"

"He needed to talk to me about something involving Chika and I," she replied.

Hikaru leered. He still didn't like the fact that Haruhi was living at the Haninozuka estate and sharing a room with her boyfriend, scratch that, fiancé. Snarling, Hikaru retorted, "About how living with someone like that will ruin your reputation, or how about that fact that you are too young, and let's not forget about the fact that you two are so mismatched it is pathetic."

SMACK

Holding his cheek, Hikaru stared wide eyed at the person who slapped him, "Kaoru?"

"That is enough Hikaru. You have crossed the line in your attacks," the younger twin seethed.

Haruhi looked up and could tell they were drawing attention from everyone in the room. Grabbing Kaoru's arm and Hikaru's ear, she dragged them out of the classroom and into the hall. As soon as they were relatively isolated, she released both of the twins and snarled, "Your brother is right, you crossed the line Hikaru. What I do in my relationship is my business, not yours. You might not like the fact that I am with Chika, you do have to accept it. I chose him. He was the first person to ask me out and I happen to really care for him and love him. You had issues last year and it almost cost you our friendship. This is your last chance Hikaru. I will sever all ties with you and we will not be friends any longer. You have been given chance after chance after chance and I am sick of it. If you don't like it, that is fine, but stop making asinine comments about my relationship or what I do. That is my business. However, you act like you would rather stop being friends, and that is fine with me too. I have enough of them, I don't need you. Make your choice: friends or not. If you stay on the path you are on, I warn you, it will be a lonely road because I will never forgive you or be your friend again." She spun on her heel and left both redheads standing there staring at her retreating figure.

"You crossed the line and right now I am more than a little ashamed of you. I love you Hikaru, but you are wrong in all of this. Chika treats her like a queen and we treat her like she is below us. Chika takes care of her and can calm her inner demon, and no one else can do that. They support each other and love each other, and to separate them would do nothing but bring misery upon two of our friends. If you continue, you will lose her friendship. Is that what you want? There is no way you can win in this. You will lose," Kaoru spoke sullenly, sad for his brother.

"Will you leave me too?" Hikaru questioned still dumbstruck by Haruhi's words, and now his brother's.

Shaking his head, Kaoru answered, "You and I are brothers and family. You are stuck with me, but that doesn't mean I like everything you are doing. I will not lose my friendship with Haruhi just because you want to be an asshole and drive her away. I will continue to have her as a friend even when you have decided to let her go." Without another word, Kaoru walked towards his classroom. His brother needed time to think and consider his actions.

At lunch that day, Haruhi walked outside and met her boyfriend in the rose maze. He could tell immediately that something was wrong and pulled her into his arms. "What happened?" Chika asked as he kissed the side of her head.

"Nothing. Were you able to read the article?" Haruhi questioned in a bid to change the subject.

Chika wasn't fooled, he knew what his girlfriend was doing and in an effort to please her, went along with it, "I did. I don't have any complaints about it. What about you?"

"Me either. I sent a text to Kyoya-senpai to let him know that I approved. I think he was just waiting on word from you."

"I will let him know as soon as I can," he said as he released Haruhi and grabbed her hand, "Come on. My cook prepared a picnic for us." He wanted to get her mind off of whatever was bothering her, and to see her smiling face once again. Gazing down at her, he could see a small one, but it was a start.

After lunch, Kyoya made his way to the newspaper office knowing that the editor would be there, "Ukyou-san, you have the approval to move forward."

"Thank you Ootori-san. The newspaper will be out the first of next week," the editor smiled. He couldn't wait to publish this latest exclusive. It was a front page headline.

Kyoya could see how anxious the fellow third year was to finally publish this juicy bit of news and he really couldn't blame him. Pushing up his glasses, he said, "I will let you get to work then." Opening the door, he was about to step out of the room when he ran into a warm body. Glancing down, it was none other than Kameko Suzuki, "Excuse me princess."

"Oh Kyoya-senpai, I didn't mean to literally run into you. I have a meeting with my editor and was running a few minutes late," Kameko smiled. She wanted to know why the youngest Ootori was once again in the newspaper office, but assumed it was because he was the business manager of the Host Club and wanted to do some advertising. Bowing, she watched him walk away and enter the room, "Ukyou-senpai, were you able to read my article?"

"Yes, I was. The Haruhi story will be front page news and will be our featured article," the editor smiled. It was the truth, but in regards to her story, it was a bit of misdirection.

Stars suddenly appeared in the first year's eyes, "Oh thank you senpai! Ano, what was Kyoya-senpai doing in here?"

"He was just in here about a feature I had discussed with him about the Host Club."

"Thank you! Thank you! This is wonderful!" Kameko bowed and ran out of the room. She felt like she was on cloud nine and couldn't wait to tell Tamaki… not Tamaki, her family. She can't wait to tell her family.