Chapter twenty one:

Hikaru is watching Kaoru working on getting things ready to try to cover up what they are actually doing. He turns away when a call comes through his phone and he finds it's Kyouyas ringtone. "Hey. Hows today going?" He greets casually trying to be careful about what he says. He's noticed that Kaoru has grown even more cautious so it is putting him on edge. He walks away to let Kaoru do his own thing just in case while he takes the call.

"Well actually I had gotten an invite to a special spot on Tv. A surprise interview with a kid of a rich family." Kyouya also seems rather careful about what he says. He can pick up that even Hikaru is starting to think that they might have other ears listening into their conversations. "I am allowed to bring some people. As long as I don't bring too many. I thought we could all go. We'll see backstage and get to see what the public doesn't usually get to see for the making of shows and such."

"That sounds fun." Hikaru admits and blinks as he realizes what Kyouya is planning to do. He clenches his teeth to try to hide the sharp inhale of breath. He releases after a very brief moment. "I'll tell Kaoru. I'm sure even he would be happy to go. We could learn some interesting things."

"Indeed." Kyouya agrees to this. "I have to call the rest of the host club. I am going to have everyone there if I can. We'll be going tomorrow afterschool."

"Okay. Sounds good. I'll make sure that we don't have anything else planned."

While Hikaru and Kyouya talking Kaoru turns as a printer beside him starts to print a piece of paper.

It only prints one and it has big bold lettering.

Kaoru swallows harshly then walks over to the piece of paper. He picks up the paper taking a look at what it says.

You're running out of time.

Kaoru's hands become shaky from reading that note. He mentally forces his eyes to focus on the sheet of paper right now. He can't look around as he fears it'll be suspicious. He knows that they must have pinpointed his cellphone signal to know where in the house he is. He knows that there is no windows or cameras in this room. He crumples it into a ball stuffing it into his pocket. He closes his eyes taking a breath in his nose then out his mouth. He opens his eyes feeling a bit calmer now. He can't let Hikaru know. He can't put more stress on the situation. "If Kyouya doesn't get something done tomorrow I'll have no choice." He whispers under his breath to himself in realization. He just hopes that for his friends sake that things turn out okay. He turns with a calm mask on upon hearing Hikaru come into the room. "Hey. Whats up?" He greets casually even flashing a smile.

"Hey. Guess what. Kyouya just called." Hikaru explains giving a smile in return understanding the need to be careful about what they say. "He said that a Tv station wanted an interview with a rich kid. He's going to bring the whole host club tomorrow after school to the station. We will get to see backstage. Get to see all sorts of stuff normal viewers don't see. It's going to be really fun."

"That does sound fun." Kaoru agrees falling into his act that nothing is wrong as he sometimes let himself do. Back when he was just starting out in the group and after his first few kills. He thought he left that in the past as the time just flew past him after the first few kills. He just got used to his new lifestyle. He supposes that it is just starting to appear a bit more due to the situation at hand. He is very uneasy about all of this that is going on with the group and his friends being involved now. "Count me in. A nice trip with friends sounds like a good break. And how can we forget what dad says about breaks?"

Hikaru chuckles then rolls his eyes slightly. "Yeah. Dad sure does believe in breaks more than mom. Breaks in work to have a little time to yourself. Even when you're really busy. That it can really help sometimes as long as you don't take too many. Mom sometimes takes breaks as I think dad is rubbing off on her."

Kaoru places his fists on his hips with a slightly genuine smile on his face now. "Do you have any idea how much you're starting to sound like dad?" He questions his twin who rubs the back of his head with a very slight blush on his face.

"Heh." Hikaru tries to think of a response to that. "Well I guess he might be rubbing off on me a little as well."

"Are you sure that you are just not trying to be lazy?" Kaoru jokes with his brother who lightly punches his arm making him laugh slightly.

"Kaoru! Stop it!" Hikaru complains trying to hide his slight laughter as well. "You know that I do get my work done."

"I know." Kaoru assures his brother.

The next morning Kaoru is holding the slip of paper in his hand. He is walking with Hikaru, Hunny, and Mori as the other two noticed the twins and decided to talk as they walked towards the school. He notices Haruhi walking a little further ahead though her pace is a bit slower than them so they are approaching where she is. He sneakily grabs the note from his bag holding it by his bag to hide it with his arm. He carefully slips it into her bag as they walk past. He does so making sure that no one sees.

Haruhi notices the twins walking along with Hunny and Mori. She remembers needing to pretend that she knows nothing. She knows that it is possible Kaoru might have a note to give to her today. She wonders if he gave her one today. She looks away as if she doesn't mind them walking ahead of her. She lets them walk for a ways and a few other students pass by her before she gets an idea. She can check her bag without getting any suspicion raised. She can feel eyes on her though she isn't sure if it is fans of the club glancing at her, those in the group watching her waiting for her to die, or if it is just her nerves about it all getting to her. She can't focus on that now. "Did I remember my wallet today?" She pauses in her walking and turns checking her bag only to stop looking when she spots a folded piece of paper. She knows that she didn't put that in her bag so it must have been Kaoru. "Huh? Whats this?" She pulls it out and looks it over.

Hello Haruhi. I am hoping that we can have a splendid talk after school together. If that is okay. Please don't tell anyone. I usually hang out by the edge of school grounds after school by just past the hill with the cherry tree. Come by if you wanna chat with me perhaps?

Haruhi makes a fake sigh stuffing the note back into her bag. "Great. Even more attention from the club. I have a thing with the club. And right now I'm not really feeling up to a bit of a one sided rendezvous with random girls." She heads inside the school going to class after that feeling like that if anyone is listening then they won't know the truth.