Disclaimer: I do not own "Ouran High School Host Club" or any of the characters in this wonderful manga/anime in any way.

A New Family

Previously in chapter thirty six: When he returned, Kyoya showed Haruhi a few more excerpts from Mitsumi's diaries and letters. It was an emotional ordeal for Haruhi. She hadn't expected to gleam such deeply emotional information in such a small amount of data. She knew that Kyoya wanted her to assist with bringing up the little girl, and now she would have ammunition when she's asked about the little one's mother.

Chapter Thirty Seven

"Haruhi, I'm not sure how you will take this, but would you be offended if I asked Kanae-san to accompany me to the business dinner tomorrow?"

"No, it would allow others to see you out with someone other than me before we start dating in public. But why do you ask?"

"The truth is, that most of while Mitsumi and I were married, her sister, Kanae was out of the country with her husband on business. They lived in France for almost 4 years. I was just thinking that it would give me a chance to talk to her… to let her know that I won't keep her niece from her. But also, as you said, it will give me a chance to be seen in public without you so that others don't think negatively about us.

"Kanae came back to Japan to prepare a home for her husband and son. They won't be back in the country for another two months. It will give her a safe way to get back into the social scene while allowing me to attend this dinner without going alone. I would much rather take you with me, but I promised that I would take things as slow as you wanted me to."

"That's fine. I don't have a problem with it."

"Ok, if you change your mind, let me know. OK?"

"Why would I change my mind? It will give me a chance to finalize the papers that I am working on for Dad. He's finally going to buy his bar. He's so excited that he wouldn't talk about anything else yesterday. He's even going to move out of our apartment in about six months in order to live above the bar. I make enough to maintain the apartment myself, so it's fine."

Or maybe in six months, you could move in here. But that is a subject to be brought up another day. For now, let's just get past our first few public outings together. If you can handle the stress of being seen out with me, then we will discuss how quickly to progress forward. "Tell Ranka-san, that I said congratulation. When I spoke to him last about it, he didn't think he would be able to afford it for another two years."

Haruhi frowned, "Yeah, that was my understanding, but suddenly he came into some unexplained money. He won't tell me where he got it from. You didn't have anything to do with it, did you?"

"No, I didn't." But I wish I had thought of it. Maybe that would have gotten the ball rolling back when we were in college. "I don't know anything about it. But if you would like, I can have my private police research it and find out what's going on. If you want me to, that is."

"I'm torn. I want to know, but if Dad doesn't want to tell me yet…" Maybe I am just being paranoid. I figured that maybe Kyoya would give Dad the money if he agreed to push me into marrying him. Dad likes Kyoya, so it wouldn't be hard to talk him into it. But if Kyoya tells me that he's not behind it, then who is? This actually makes me nervous, but Dad wouldn't do something stupid, would he?

"I understand. I won't get involved unless you come ask me to, ok?" Or at least that's what you will know about it. I will call and have the find out what's going on as soon as you leave. This is too fishy. Maybe I think that everything is about corporate espionage, but if something like that happened to someone who could be tied to me, I would assume the worst.

"It won't be necessary, but thank you. So you're going to ask Kanae-san to tomorrow's dinner, I'm done with today's work, and you were up all night researching something so you slept all day. Maybe the princess and I should go check on her upcoming well baby doctor visits, while you get a little bit of work done. While you're at it, make sure to make me a good long list of what to do tomorrow. I don't want you to be wasting your money having me around just twiddling my thumbs." She smiled as she took the princess from his arms and turned to leave the room. "Oh and you need to finalize things on who you want as this little lady's nanny. I expect only the most thorough background checks for those dealing with such a precious item as the one I am holding in my arms."

"Of course. Would you expect less of me?"

"No I guess not. Ok, so to work with you. We are going to go for a walk after we check on her schedule." She smiled at him as he frowned but pulled out paperwork from his briefcase none the less. He knew that he had a lot of work to catch up on, but he would much rather spend time with the two who held his heart. He completed the work that his father sent him to America for first, but then just as quick he completed the work that he did for the other company… his own personal company that his father did not know about.

With the deal finalized, he knew that he now had enough holdings of his father's company that he would be able to, for once, make his life his own. He had followed his fathers so called recommendations while he built up his holdings. But now, he owned the parts of his father's company that he had been trying to privately sell off to keep the fact that Otori Group was failing. Kyoya had allowed his father to successfully hide his downfall. Out of respect for his father, he kept the sale-offs quiet, while also keeping his newly obtained possessions quiet. Kyoya had learned from the best. He had successfully hidden his interest in the businesses, quietly taking over the controlling interest in the industry without anyone recognizing. He had decided that in approximately 6 months he would announce that all of KOH Group holdings would be consolidated and his father would no longer be in control.

Kyoya also hoped that at the same time, he would be able to announce his engagement to Haruhi. He felt compelled to do it, since being with her over the last three weeks had encouraged him to finally take control of his life. He would have everything he wanted in life, finally. No longer would he bow down to his father.

Before starting the paperwork he made a few phone calls. Kyoya called the head of his private force and informed them that he wanted the source of the money that Ranka acquired to be found, at all costs. If there was anything suspicious regarding the money or anything in Haruhi's life, he wanted to know. He also put them to task finding out what his former in-laws were planning. Haruhi needed to be prepared if she was going to take them on in court to preserve his family. And, lastly, he assigned them to do background research on each of the prospective nannies that he had narrowed the field down to. Once those tasks were started, he called his former sister-in-law and asked her to the business dinner the next day.

Kanae asked why Haruhi would not be accompanying him to the dinner. She knew that Kyoya and Haruhi had a good relationship, and she had accompanied him to dinners prior to his marriage to Mitsumi. He offered to explain on the limo ride to dinner if she would accompany him. It was decided and arrangements were made. With everything decided, he tackled the paperwork left to do, completing it with ease.