DISCLAIMER: I DO NOT OWN OURAN IN ANY WAY SHAPE OR FORM

"Hmm?" Haruhi muttered in surprise when she got home and saw her father's car parked outside. "Why would Dad be here?"

"Hey Haruhi hello," said Norio from behind her. Haruhi turned and saw him getting out of his car.

"Hey Norio, how was your New Years with Miya?" asked Haruhi.

"Great!" said Norio, "Her new house is really nice and it's in a nice neighborhood near a really nice shrine we were able to visit on New Years."

"How is she doing?" asked Haruhi.

"She seemed happy at her new home and her new job," said Norio.

"Well that's good," said Haruhi hurrying inside with the man.

"How about you, how was your New Years?" asked Norio.

"Good we spent it just like we almost always do, spending all day at the shrine with our friends," said Haruhi.

"Sounds like a nice tradition," said Norio.

When the two walked into the playroom they found Hikaru alone with the kids, including Benjiro and Umeko in their playpen, encouraging Shoji and Mitsu to race their cars while Hisano sat off by herself fiddling with one of her dollhouses. If Haruhi didn't know any better she could have sworn that Hisano looked a little bit upset.

"Hey how was work?" Hikaru asked.

"Good," Haruhi and Norio both answered at the same time.

"So who's winning the race?" Norio asked walking over towards the boys.

"I am," both Mitsu and Shoji said at the same time.

"Where's Kaoru, and Kotoko for that matter?" asked Haruhi, "And did I see my father's car outside?"

"Yes you did," said Hikaru, "He and Kaoru have been working hard together on Kotoko entering that pageant."

"Oh great my father's involved now?!" said Haruhi storming out and over to Kaoru's studio.

"No no this one will be softer on her skin," she heard Kaoru mention as she stormed in.

"But are you sure we can get it in the right color?" asked Ranka.

"Sure I'm sure," said Kaoru, "I'm a Hitachiin aren't I? I can get nearly any color material I want with the snap of my fingers." At that Haruhi snapped her fingers to get the two men's attention.

"Oh Haruhi you're home," said Kaoru slightly startled.

"Welcome home dear!" said Ranka moving swiftly and hugging up her daughter, "I feel like we don't see each other as much as we should!" "

"Yes Dad okay," said Haruhi pushing Ranka away, "So I see you're here helping out huh? Why am I not too surprised?"

"Oh pooh, you're such a stickler!" said Ranka.

"Just how did you get involved?" Haruhi asked looking past her father over towards Kaoru.

"All I did was call and ask him what your mother's birthday was," Kaoru said in defense.

"And what you couldn't ask me?" asked Haruhi.

"I thought you were in court and didn't want to bother you," said Kaoru, "And plus your dad had the day off."

"And when he told me what he was doing well naturally I wanted to help!" Ranka insisted.

"Yes I bet you did," said Haruhi, "Well whatever you do make sure you're keeping Kotoko's best interest at heart alright?"

"You worry too much Haruhi," Ranka and Kaoru said together.

"Hey," said Norio walking into the studio, "Just came to say hi and bye real fast before Shoji and I leave."

"Oh yeah hi!" said Kaoru hurrying over to his friend, "Welcome home. How was New Years with Miya?"

"It was good. Shoji enjoyed seeing his mother and I like knowing she and I can be civilized with each other even though we're separated," said Norio.

"What about what you were saying earlier, you know about you and her?" Kaoru asked.

"Oh that?" Norio sputtered, "Well that's something we're going to have talk about in a later time seeing as how we're still getting use to being separated and all." Kaoru nodded.

"Well I hope whatever happens it's the best for you two and Shoji," said Kaoru.

"Yes we all do," said Ranka grabbing Kaoru back towards his sketch table. "We have a lot of work to do! Come on now Kaoru!"

"Yes right," said Kaoru.

"What are you doing anyway?" Norio asked.

"We're entering Kotoko in a beauty pageant," Kaoru explained.

"Seriously?" said Norio shifting an eyebrow, "That's crazy don't you think?"

"Nonsense," said Ranka, "As long as the parents aren't complete psychos the child will be just fine."

"Again I'm forced to ask, isn't this just a bit crazy?" asked Norio.

"That's what I keep saying but no one listens to me," said Haruhi.

"Hmm you say something Haruhi?" asked Kaoru.

"Um well good luck with that then I guess," said Norio as he turned to leave. He cast a glance over at Haruhi, "I hope it doesn't get out of hand."

"Me too!" said Haruhi.


Ranka and Kaoru stayed up late into the night in Kaoru's studio working hard. In fact they up so late that Ranka just spent the night. This was a surprise to the older kids the next morning when they saw their grandfather walking into the dinging room not even dressed as a woman.

"Papa you spent the night?!" asked Mitsu. Ranka groaned before responding.

"Yes Mitsu I did. Where's the coffee?"

"Why didn't you come say good-night?" asked Hisano.

"You were already asleep when Papa was ready to bed, sorry sweetie," Ranka apologized.

"Dad, are you going to spend the whole day with Kaoru helping him?" asked Haruhi.

"I was planning too," said Ranka, "Kaoru could use all the help he can get."

"Never mindful that he could hire any of the best pageant guides in the world?" muttered Haruhi.

"Shh!" Hikaru hissed next to her, "Do you want to give them an idea?!"

"Hmm, did you say something Hikaru?" Kaoru asked.

"What no of course not," said Hikaru.

"Hmm okay," said Kaoru.

"Speaking of planning things, when are we going to plan our birthday?!" asked Mitsu.

"Mitsu that's two months away," said Haruhi.

"It's never too early to be planning something as important as someone's 4th birthday," Hikaru insisted.

"Are you that board?" Haruhi asked.

"You know it," said Hikaru, "Especially since Kaoru's so busy with Ranka at the moment."

"Maybe you guys need a puppy or something," muttered Haruhi.

"A Puppy?!" shouted Mitsu and Hisano.

"Your mother said it," said Hikaru.

"Not us," said Kaoru.

"I never exactly said we could get a puppy," Haruhi insisted. "I think we should wait until you kids are older before we consider something like that."

"Oh," Hisano and Mitsu both moaned.

"Well in the meantime we need to get back to work about Kotoko and her pageant debut!" insisted Ranka, "Let's go Kaoru." He reached over and plucked up Kotoko from her high playpen, leaving her brother and sister alone.

"Hey Dad you shouldn't ignore your other grandkids like that!" said Haruhi.

"I'm not!" said Ranka, "Kotoko's the one that needs the most attention at the moment. Now come along Kaoru."

"Coming," said Kaoru as he slowly stood up. He looked out at the rest of his family with apologetic eyes before heading out after Ranka.

"Daddy Kaoru and Ranka really does like Kotoko best don't they?" asked Hisano.

"I told you no," insisted Hikaru, "Now come on let's get going to school."

"Can I go do something real fast?" asked Hisano.

"Of course," said Hikaru. Hisano ran to her room and pulled open a box that her fathers had kept all the different hair things he often tired to put her into hair but she refused. She pulled out a hair clip and fastened it into her hair and ran back downstairs to waiting father.

"What did you put in your hair Hisano?" asked Hikaru when he saw.

"Something to make it pretty," said Hisano running past him fast.

"Since when do you care about your hair being pretty?" asked Hikaru more to himself ten to his daughter.


"Do you think Daddy Kaoru or Papa will be able to play with us when we get home?" Mitsu asked after school as Hikaru drove him Hisano and Mitsu home.

"I doubt it," said Hikaru, "They've been their studio all day again working hard on your sister's thing."

"Still?" asked Hisano.

"I think they're going to be working on it for a long time honey," said Hikaru.

"Hmm," said Hisano.

"Hey aren't you just a little bit excited about the idea of getting to re-decorate one of your dollhouses?" asked Hikaru trying to cheer up. Hisano didn't say anything. When she got home she headed to her room instead of going off to play with her brother and friend she went to her room. She pulled out more hair things and started putting them into her room. Before long there was so much hair clips in her hair it made her look like a real mess. She walked downstairs to try and see what her fathers thought.

"Daddy Hikaru?" she said walking into the play room. Hikaru was holding Benjiro on his shoulder while talking baby talk to Umeko. Mitsu and Shoji were once again racing their cars. When Benjiro saw his sister he started to cry. Hikaru turned around and his eyes nearly sprung out at the sight of seeing his daughter's messy hair.

"What the heck did you do to your hair?" he asked/.

"I thought I'd try letting my hair look nice so Daddy Kaoru knew liked I being pretty too," said Hisano.

"What did I tell you?" asked Hikaru putting Benjiro down next to his sister, "You don't have to worry about that sort of thing!"

"But I feel lonely without Daddy Kaoru always around," said Hisano, "Just like I'm lonely when you're not around."

"I know honey, but you shouldn't do things like this to get attention alright?" Hikaru tried telling her.

"Hey Hikaru do you remember that number to one material company from Switzerland?" Kaoru asked walking into the room only to get distracted by the look of Hisano's hair, "Hisano what did you do to your hair?!"

"She was trying to make it look pretty like you're always trying to do to her to get you attention," said Hikaru.

"Hey we both mess with her hair," said Kaoru, "And Hisano you don't have to do this to get my attention!"

"Then how else can I get it?" asked Hisano. Kaoru sighed and took Hisano out of the room and too the nearest bathroom. He started to carefully take out the different hair pieces.

"Do you realize you're pretty in your own way?" he asked as he took out the hair things.

"Not at pretty as Kotoko!" said Hisano.

"No it's not like that," said Kaoru, "You just have your own way looking pretty. You don't need things like fancy dresses and hair things to look pretty. You're pretty in your natural just like your mommy. Daddy Kaoru just felt he could amp up your pretty, which is wrong of him. He should let you be pretty in your own way. In a way you do with showing how great you are decorating a room. Kotoko has a way of looking pretty with things like dresses and I think Umeko's going to have a way of looking pretty with Ikebana art. I'm proud of you with what you're doing and I want to see you keep going on like that. It's just right now Kotoko needs my attention. But I promise you when it's over I'll spend a lot more time with you alright?" He finished pulling the different hair pieces. "There's my pretty girl." He smiled at his daughter. "You know what; I think there is something we can do with your hair."

"Like what?" asked Hisano backing away in fear.


"We're here," said Haruhi when he came home along with Norio. "How's it going today?"

"Fine for the most part," said Hikaru.

"Is Kaoru still in his studio working with Haruhi's dad and Kotoko?" asked Norio.

"No he left a while ago with Hisano and so Ranka went home for the time being as well. Kotoko's been here with me playing with her brother and sister," said Hikaru holding her up.

"Oh well where did they go?" asked Haruhi.

"I don't know, he didn't tell me," said Hikaru.

"Well I should get home so I can get started on dinner," said Norio, "Come on Shoji, say bye to everyone."

"Bye!" cheered Shoji as he and his father left. Mere minutes after the two had left, Hikaru and Haruhi heard Kaoru coming back into the mansion.

"Hi," said Kaoru walking into the playroom alone.

"Where's Hisano?" asked Haruhi.

"Want to see her?" asked Kaoru as he walked out of the room, "I took her to get her hair done. It's really nice." He walked back in holding Hisano's hand. The little girl had a hair cut as short as her mothers.

"What did you do to her lovely hair?!" asked Hikaru.

"She said she wanted it as short as Mommy's so I let her. It'll make me feel less tempted to mess around with it sine she doesn't like it so much," said Kaoru.

"What do you think Mommy?" asked Hisano twirling around.

"As long as you're happy with it honey, its fine with me," said Haruhi. She walked over to Kaoru and kissed him. "That was really sweet of you Kaoru."

"I know, I think it'll help her realize just how pretty she really is," said Kaoru happily.