A/N: Hey everyone, forgive me for the delayed update. This is taking me some time to get just right and feel natural, something I've always striven for. As always, please read and review. I greatly appreciate it!

Girl Time: Part Two

The Christmas Party was fast approaching. Haruhi had been over to the Ootori home twice since that fateful first dinner and Ritsu had the keycode to the door in case anything went wrong, and this was their last chance to gather as much intel as Haruhi could. She had been out on a few more dates with Kyouya and had shared several more intimate kisses. She was growing more comfortable with them, going so far as to even play with the little hairs on the back of his head during them, something that made him groan into her lips and stoked her pride. Who knew that she could bring the great Shadow King of Ouran to his knees so easily.

The Saturday of the party arrived bright and way too early for one sleepy brunette who had spent half the night caring for her drunk father. She cursed her fashion friends who knocked so fervently on her door. Grumbling about killing them in very creatively explicit ways, she threw open the door and glared at the twin nitwits who dared wake her up.

"What the hell do you two want?"

"AAAAHHHHH HOST CLUB DEMON!" They clung to each other suggestively.

"Don't worry, Kaoru, I'll protect you!"

"I could never ask you to do that for me, Hikaru."

"You don't have to ask, dear little brother. I couldn't live with myself if I let her harm you."

"Hikaru…"

"Kao-"

"Will you two knock it off and tell me what the hell you're doing on my doorstep at seven in the morning?!" They shrugged in unison.

"We're here to help you get ready for the party."

"I don't need help and the party isn't for another twelve hours! You're going to get lost before I sic Mitsu and Kyouya on you and I'm going back to bed."

"Haruhi!"

"Oh, now what?!" She looked behind the twins only to see no less than four of her female friends from E-Class and Professor Bitch strolling up the sidewalk. "No," she mumbled. "No, no, no, no, no!" Her voice grew louder with each passing word as the twins high-fived each other. "I just wanna sleep," she wined. When the group of girls approached, she deadpanned. "And what are you doing here?"

"Isn't it obvious, Haruhi?" Kayano asked.

"We're here to help you out with the party." Nakamura elaborated.

"We decided to have some fun today so we're all going to a spa. It's supposed to be really nice." Kanzaki smiled, sweetly.

"And Professor Bitch is paying for the whole thing!" Kurahashi concluded.

"WHAT?! I didn't agree to that! Who was the wise ass who decided THAT?!" The girls with her laughed.

"Calm down, PB. We called Karasama-sensei and he arranged everything. He's already transferred the money to your account. All we need now is for Haruhi to get her lazy butt in gear." Nakamura smirked at the brunette who was trying very hard not to lose her temper at this point.

"Humph. He could have told me as much at least. Leave it to him to let me go in blind."

"Come on, Haruhi! Get dressed so we can get going!" Kurahashi pushed passed the twins to shove the brunette into her room.

"Mom, give me strength," Haruhi muttered darkly. Once she was acceptably dressed for the cold weather, she returned to her fiends…friends. They're her friends. She had to keep reminding herself that they had the best intentions and she did like spending time with them.

"Alright, spa day!" The twins synchronized.

"You aren't going anywhere with us, Hitachiins." Irina said, protectively. "This is a ladies' only trip."

"But we're the sons of the biggest fashion empire in the country!" Hikaru wined.

"You need us to make her look good. Besides, girl talk and fashion advice transcend gender." Kaoru continued.

"We don't need a boy's opinion on how to make our girlfriend shine." Kanzaki said kindly, with a definite edge in her eyes.

"Hika, Kao?" Haruhi called quietly. She led them back into her apartment, motioning for her girlfriends and former teacher to wait a moment.

"Listen, you know I love having you around and even though you two tend to be overbearing, you do have good advice. The dress you sent me for tonight was stunning. But I haven't gotten to spend any time with them since the beach and I miss them. Do you think you could give me this?"

They shifted guiltily. When she spoke that softly with her big puppy dog brown eyes gazing at them, open and honest, it made them reconsider every bad thing they'd ever done in their lives. It was irritating, but they couldn't resist the power of her stare. And they didn't want to.

"Yeah, sure, Haruhi," Kaoru started.

"We'll go annoy the boss or somethin'," Hikaru said with an evil grin. Haruhi smiled.

"Just make sure that 'something' doesn't involve you guys following me," she replied, kissing their cheeks. She had become comfortable with the slight display of affection and bestowed it willingly. After a brief time, they stopped being shocked by it and were eager to accept it. "Thanks, you two." The trio exited her apartment once more and the twins left for Tamaki's. The girls set off for a nice breakfast and then the spa, most of them in high spirits, the focus of the group not looking forward to their destination but enjoying her company all the same.

"Wow, Haruhi, you look radiant!" Nakamura exclaimed several hours later when they took a lunch break. As it turned out, Karasama had set up the whole works for the girls. No expense was spared, no treatment overlooked. Irina was surprised by the lengths he had gone to. He even had a bouquet of stargazer lilies sent to her that had her blushing like a schoolgirl and her former students tittering.

"Thanks, but I'm far from the only one. You all look great too." Haruhi had actually ended up having a good time with her friends, despite their location activities. The waxing was awful but she couldn't deny the appeal of the massage. She couldn't ever remember feeling so relaxed.

"True! But considering you're the one with the event tonight, it's your appearance that matters most. And that rich boyfriend of yours is going to be speechless. I still can't believe you've been dating Ootori and you didn't tell us!" The blonde replied. "We had to find out from Ritsu two months later!"

"I know, I'm sorry. I guess it just didn't seem like that big a deal." The brunette said sheepishly.

"Are you kidding?! The fact that you're dating at ALL is a HUGE deal!" Kayano exclaimed before getting a smirk on her face. "So tell us…how far have you gone with him?"

"Kaede, don't be a perv." Haruhi stuck her tongue out at the green-haired girl.

"Inquiring minds want to know, Haruhi." Kurahashi responded, holding out a notebook and pencil.

"She got quite close to him at Yūma's and Hiroto's new restaurant. In the private room." Ritsu answered from Kanzaki's phone with a wink.

"RITSU!" Haruhi nearly shouted, her face turning deep red. She couldn't believe the pink-haired girl had just ratted her out.

"Busted," Kanzaki said, giggling.

"Ooooooh, Haruhi you vixen!" Kayano laughed maliciously.

"It wasn't like that," Haurhi defended, glaring at the phone. Ritsu only shrugged innocently. "It was just a kiss."

"The first of many," Ritsu added.

"RITSU!" The girls all laughed.

"If you need any advice, you can always come to me. Mama's got a lot of experience." Irina smirked.

"I," Haurhi started loudly before settling, defeated. "I don't know." The table went silent.

"Haruhi, are you seriously considering…that?" Kanzaki asked, no longer laughing. She was astounded. They all were.

"I…don't know. Maybe?" This was why she didn't want the twins around. This kind of girl talk she really didn't want them in on. As it was, there were too many girls for her to be comfortable with but she reasoned that all of them together might be able to help her come to a conclusive decision.

"Wow, I didn't realize you'd gotten so close with him." Kurahashi breathed. "When he was at your house that first day I helped you get dressed, you two didn't even glance at each other. Are you sure, though? That's not exactly something you can take back."

"He was at her house?! Was Papa Ranka there?!" Kayano gaped. Kurahashi nodded. Kayano wiped her brow in semi-mock relief.

"I'm not sure. That's kind of why I said something. What if there comes a situation and I don't have a choice? I know we've all trained hard and we should be able to fight off any attacker no matter how they try to take us but look at what almost happened to you, Yukiko, when we went to Kyoto. Look at what happened to you, Miss Irina, and what kind of person it turned you into and how long it took you to develop an actual relationship. Wouldn't it be better to do that with someone I trust so it doesn't ruin me for good?" She looked at the faces around her as they stared evenly at her in return. Each pair of eyes was filled with understanding and sympathy, some were even contemplative, as if they'd never thought about it like that before.

"Haruhi, the situation you're talking about, is very unlikely to happen to you girls. Tadaomi and I made sure you know how to get out of a situation like that before it goes too far. Believe it or not, we care for you kids. Neither of us wanted you to go through what I went through so we both worked hard on our part to prevent that." Irina knew what Haruhi was afraid of and why. "I can understand if you wouldn't want to take a chance, though, and if you think you can trust the Ootori boy then I can give you some pointers if you want."

"Like I said, I still can't make a decision and I've tried."

"Haruhi, what about Karma? Don't you still have a thing for him? Why are you even dating Ootori anyway when you said the reason you couldn't date Karma was because you two went to different schools. He goes to Ouran now, right? So you can date him and get it on with your red-headed sadist." The other girls nodded at Kayano's logic, grinning in amusement at her choice of words.

"Wait, you still have a crush on Karma?!" Kurahashi exclaimed.

"Oh, that's right, you weren't at the Hitachiin beach house those few days." Kayano replied. "I think you had some tours or something. Anyway, yeah, she told us then that she still liked him."

"Aww, you two would make such a killer couple!" The strawberry blonde giggled at her own joke. "Kaede's right, why aren't you dating him?"

"It's a bit more complicated than that but I'm not at liberty to say more and apparently I can't trust Ritsu to keep her mouth closed." The pink-haired girl stuck her tongue out at Haruhi who responded in kind.

"Do you love Ootori?" Kanzaki asked.

"Does it matter?" The brunette retorted. "He's a close friend and I trust him enough. It's not like I'd have to be stuck with him forever if we went there. We could still break up and move on. We could still remain close friends. That's what Karma said, anyway."

"You talked about screwing your boyfriend with your crush?!"

"Hinano, shhhh! Would you keep it down?!" Haruhi stifled the girl with her hand. As soon as her point was made clear, she removed it.

"Sorry," Kurahashi said, abashed.

"I thought you said he said he wanted to date you," Kanzaki prodded gently.

Haruhi frowned, looking upset. "He did."

"But you just said-" Nakamura started.

"I know," Haruhi interrupted. Her eyes were filled with confusion, defeat, and her friends reached over the table to touch her in some way in support and sympathy. "He was the one who suggested it in the first place. You know, having sex with someone I can trust in case I'm ever in a position where I don't have a choice. We were talking about Kyouya when he said it. He's been pushing for me to date Kyouya since the beach house."

"Well, we all know Karma's an ass but I didn't think he was that bad. I'm really sorry, Haruhi. You know I never would have poked fun if I'd known."

"I know. Thanks, Kaede. Still doesn't help me make a decision though. I'm at a complete loss."

"I say stick it to 'im and bang Ootori. He's cute. He's intelligent. He's totally head over heels for you. And when Karma realizes what he's missing out on, he'll come crawling back." Nakamura surmised.

"You know, she does have a point, Haruhi," Irina agreed with a smirk. "If there's anything that brings a man to his knees it's realizing what he can't have."

"But wouldn't I just be using Kyouya to get to Karma? How's that fair to anybody?"

"Who said it had to be? All's fair in love and war," Kanzaki stated, wisely.

"If he's going to suggest you sleep with Ootori when it's clear you really like Karma, do it and watch it blow up in his face," Kurahashi said, bluntly.

"Wow. Brutal." Nakamura grinned.

"A little harsh, don't you think, Hinano?" Haruhi responded, surprised by her usually happy-go-lucky friend.

"Don't you think it was harsh of Karma to pretty much throw you at Ootori when it's obvious you're into him?"

"I guess so. And it's not like I'm forced to marry Kyouya if I did, right?"

"Of course not!" Kurahashi assured.

"Go for it. Karma deserves a bit of his namesake for this." Nakamura grinned evilly.

"Serves him right for practically throwing you away," Kanzaki supplied.

"I'm so proud of you girls. Look at you, all eager to put a man in his place," Irina grinned. "In that case, we have some more work to do."

A short time later, the group of girls were being led into a lingerie store by their former teacher where she taught them all about the different kinds they would encounter and how to use them. Thirty minutes later, they exited, Haruhi carrying one small bag and beet red, Irina carrying two large bags and completely nonchalant. Then it was back to the spa to finish out their day with nails and hair.

"Haruhi, is your father home now?" Irina asked.

"I don't know. Maybe. Why?"

"Because you still need your makeup done and it's a lot easier to dress in a formal gown if you're in a larger space than a bedroom."

"I am not changing in the middle of my living room wearing this under it!" The brunette shrieked, indicating the small bag she kept trying to make invisible.

"Please, honey, it's not as if you have anything any of us haven't seen before."

"I have neighbors!"

"So we'll close the curtains, come on Haruhi, it's not that big a deal," Nakamura smirked. She groaned in defeat, knowing it was useless to argue.

"Dad?" Haruhi called out a little while later as the group crossed the threshold into the apartment. Immediately, her friends made themselves comfortable and Irina started working on some tea. "Whose home is this, again?" She muttered under her breath. "Dad, I'm home!" She called out again. She knocked on his door before peeking in, only to find his room Ranka-less. "Guess he's already gone to work," she said, returning to the living room.

"Perfect. Now, Haruhi, sit and be a good girl, eh?" Nakamura heavily suggested.

"Yeah, yeah," she mumbled. The relaxed feeling left by the massage had long since dissipated and she found she missed it already. She sat at the kitchen table where the others had already laid out an impressive array of makeup. 'Where were they hiding this stuff?' The brunette wondered, dutifully closing her eyes.

"Where is the dress?" Kanzaki asked. "We need to see it before we start so we know what colors to use."

"Hanging on the back of my closet door." She didn't feel like opening her eyes back up as she heard the eager footsteps retreating to the back bedroom. Haruhi smiled when the apartment filled with amazed 'ooohs' and 'ahhhs'. The twins' work was immaculate and never failed to leave people less than floored.

"Haruhi, it's beautiful…" Irina breathed, in awe.

"Where did you get this?" Kayano asked, practically drooling.

"Hikaru and Kaoru made it. They make a lot of my clothes. It's a lot easier to just accept them than to try and fight them on it."

"Those homosexual pervy twins made this?!" Nakamura replied.

"Yeah. But you know they're not actually homosexual, right? It's just an act."

"Alright, alright. We all agree the dress is astounding. Now let's get Haruhi ready to get in the dress. We're running out of time here!" Kurahashi ordered.

An hour and a half later the girls stepped back in sheer awe at the figure that was their friend. Her hair had been touched up, her makeup, intricately done by Irina, Kanzaki had helped her into her gown, Kayano put her shoes on so she wouldn't have to bend over. Kurahashi assisted with her accessories, and Nakamura packed her clutch with emergency supplies.

"Haruhi, you look beautiful!"

"Stunning!"

"I'm so jealous!"

"Haruhi, I've coached you as best I can. You're ready. Go make mama proud and knock 'im dead."

"Thanks, you guys. I really do appreciate all the help today. I'd ask you to wish me luck but, honestly, I think I've got this." Her sparkling eyes focused on her friends, determined. They grinned at her in return.

"You'd better tell us how it goes tonight," Kayano said, softly.

"But we understand if we don't hear from you until tomorrow," Nakamura winked. Everyone laughed quietly.

"We'd better get going, okay? You take care of yourself tonight and call us if anything goes wrong."

"Definitely. I can just imagine you five busting through the windows of the Ootori Mansion to rescue me." They laughed again and the energy of the room relaxed. Her friends and her former teacher hugged her gently and gave their goodbyes, leaving the premises before Haruhi messaged Kyouya for a ride.