2/? Impositions

Haruhi glanced at the clock hanging on the hotel suite wall. It was already ten o' clock p.m, meaning it was eight a.m. in Boston. She had just gotten back from the opening ceremony of the symposium, and it was the same as any conference: long, tedious and boring. Haruhi was wont to check her watch every two minutes, getting disappointed when it would show that the little minute hand had decided that it would go so much slower than it usually did.

Haruhi retrieved her messages from the blinking answering machine while she went for the stocked mini bar for some relief. There was dinner included in the conference but she hadn't allowed herself to drink more than a couple of flutes of champagne and the weak stuff wasn't enough for her nerves. She grabbed a toy bottle of scotch, pouring it on a glass sans ice.

The stiff drink burned its way through her throat, though hardly making her sputter. She had gotten used to hard drinks while on America. Another thing to thank the raucous frat parties for.

Haruhi collapsed on one of the overstuffed armchairs, drawing her tired feet up while nursing her drink. What she wouldn't give to be able to sleep right now but there were things to be done. It was hard being a partner of the law firm, but it was something she had aimed her life for. This was no time to slack off, not when there were lives on the line.

The first message from the machine was from her father, asking her if she was free tomorrow for a lunch. Haruhi made a mental note to refuse, knowing that it would crush the old man. She was really sorry, but she couldn't waste any more time. She also reminded herself that she would take him on a grand holiday once this whole business was over. That should be enough of an apology and thanks for the father who supported and loved her all these years.

The second message, however, went like this:

"Haruhi, it's Jones here in Boston. I called the desk downstairs and they gave me the number to your room. Listen, I just got a new intel. We've been keeping tabs on him since you left and he bought a first class ticket there, no doubt from the missus' own credit cards. It wouldn't take much to know what he's planning. Wait a minute, Eric's just come."Haruhi heard the rustling of paper and the audible gasp of Jones from the other line. "Shit. His wife's known that he's coming there as well and is on the afternoon flight to Japan. His plane left at six this morning. It's Cathay Pacific, flight number 568. The woman's on China Airways. Both at Narita Airport. At least act surprised when he arrives. We'll let you know more as soon as we gather more info. Take care of yourself, Haruhi. Oh, for crying out loud, Eric! You ask her if she wants to go on a date with you as soon as she comes back! I'm not a fucking messenger! Oh, yeah? You obsessed--"

The message ended with a click. Eric must have pressed the button in fear of more embarrassing revelations. Her colleague had been asking her out since forever, when he said that he thought she was cute because she had big brown eyes and a petite figure. Haruhi shot him down mercilessly, using her bluntness with rapid force. But he still didn't give up, vowing one day that she would be begging him to go out with him. Nearly four years on, and she still hasn't gone out with him.

Haruhi smiled. Things were going as expected. She wasn't very surprised that he was coming here after her. It was his nature. He always runs after the freshest meat available on the market, and Haruhi was just fresh for slaughter in his eyes. She knew how his mind worked, even if he prided himself pretty unreadable. There was only one person Haruhi has been unable to read like a book and it frustrated her so.

The third and last message on her phone was quite a surprise, though. It was from someone she hardly thought would call her so fast:

"Haruhi-san? It's me, Toya. Please pardon me for calling you like this but I got your number from the concierge."Haruhi's smile grew wider. The kid's vocabulary was quite excellent, then again, he was born into the world of the rich. "Tomorrow's Sunday and I have no classes. So, if it's not too much trouble, could you please join me and my father for lunch at our house? Father says that you haven't been there for ages and I thought that it would be nice if you could visit it sometime. Fuyumi-baasan also said that she wants to see you, so it would be perfect. Please call me back for your reply. Oh, and it's nice meeting you again, at least this time I can remember it. Bye."

There was a click and the line went dead. His voice was shy yet still held some kind of haughtiness with it that came with his aristocratic upbringing. She figured that it was the type of voice he used when asking for favors, and not ordering them.

Haruhi got up from her comfortable perch to the laptop set up on the corner desk. She fired up her computer and while it was loading up, she called room service for a pot of coffee with milk and sugar in anticipation for the long night ahead.

She was already on the tenth page of the dossier she was glossing over when room service came. She didn't give a tip, as it would surely mark her as an American, though Japanese-looking. The coffee gave her newfound strength as she forced herself to analyze the file before her over and over again.

It was nearly five a.m. when she called it quits, going for her bed. She stripped to her underwear and crawled under the covers for at least three hours of sleep. Since it was Sunday, the convention organizers decided that the poor souls who signed up for it should have at least one day of rest and tour around the city while they have time. Haruhi was hoping that she could use it to catch some sleep as she was still horribly fatigued.

Exhausted though her mind might be, her thoughts still swam in her head relentlessly, refusing her rest.

She remembered when this whole messy affair started. Way back a year and a half ago.

Haruhi had been at her job as an associate in the law firm for three years now, and she was so good at her job that she was rumored to become a partner in another year if she kept it up. She didn't care: she decided that doing her job the best she could was what mattered most of all. The law firm was partly owned by some private companies for the use of their employees though only for private cases such as divorces, domestic violence, alimony problems, and such. They still had to have a case where the employee tried to sue their employer using the firm to back them up.

She met him in the office's Christmas party. She was just sitting quietly in her corner with her wine when he sidled up to her with a nasty pick-up line and an even nastier smile and body odor. He said he was the son of one of the firm's senior partner and some of the older partners affirmed the fact so Haruhi had no choice but to get through the pleasantries with him, no matter how much he repulsed her at first. Their talk went from the weather to their families. He said that he lived in Japan most of his childhood life, though he moved to America to receive his high school education. He came back to Japan for university, then back again to the States where he was not working for the American branch of his father's company. He leered at her the whole time but she maintained her deadpan and slightly callous attitude though it wasn't enough to make him back off. It wasn't until Jones came to her rescue, saying that he needed help with the prize distribution.

His name was Kaido Fuji.

However, later on in the ladies toilet, Jessica, another associate told her that he was a serious player. He was already married to another Japanese woman but was always seen with one girl or another. After that, Haruhi made it a point to avoid him during the whole party, which she had little success in. He stuck to her like a leech to a gaping wound.

Six months later, Haruhi was promoted to partner, an honor that she could hardly believe herself. Her first client as partner was a Mr. Inoue, who wanted some legal advice about her daughter and his husband, who astoundingly enough was the bastard, Kaido Fuji. Inoue wanted her daughter to divorce the no-good idiot but his daughter refused. It seems that Inoue had come all the way to Japan just for this reason and had come to her because she was Japanese.

Haruhi had no choice but to tell him that unless that they could build up a case, such as domestic violence or some sort that would make the courts grant them a forcible separation. It was a messy business that needed a lot of surveillance work on the couple so they both enlisted the help of an agency for the dirty work.

They couldn't bug the house as the courts wouldn't grant them permission on the grounds of just a hunch. So they had to watch them for the outside. So far, they seemed like a happy couple, save the constant disappearance of Fuji in the upper class hotels with a new, young girl at his side. Even presented with the pictures, Mrs. Fuji still maintained that she would stick by her husband and didn't agree with the divorce, even if Inoue had had enough and disinherited his daughter in his anger. Inoue left for his homeland sharpish but Mrs. Fuji couldn't care less, saying that just being with her husband was enough.

Haruhi sensed that something wasn't right but dropped the case since Inoue himself said that it was a hopeless cause from the beginning.

Another half a year later, a new client for Haruhi arrived. And that's when it all spiraled to hell.

Haruhi shifted under the warm duvet, thinking that maybe she would take up Toya on that offer.

--

The sun's rays hit Haruhi full in the face and she grumbled, turning to the side. She forced herself to grab the clock on the bedside table, squinting foggy eyes at the crystal display. It read 11:00 a.m.

Shooting to her feet, Haruhi scrambled about the room, figuring what to do first.

Calm. Deep breaths. Remember yoga class and the one-hundred fifty bucks you had to shell out for one infuriating week of bending your bones until you felt like overcooked spaghetti.

Gaining enough composure, she sorted out her thoughts before remembering that she needed to call the Ootori household to accept the lunch invitation. It was already late, but she could pop in for tea, couldn't she?

Picking up the phone, she dialled hurriedly, having memorized all of the phone numbers of the boys, be it landlines or their mobiles.

Someone picked up on the third ring.

"Good morning, this is the Ootori residence," said a smooth, cultured voice. It must be a butler, Haruhi surmised. "May I help you?"

"Good morning," said Haruhi, trying to inject some life into her voice. "This is Haruhi Fujioka. May I speak to Fuyumi or Toya? Even Kyoya would do."

"I assume that this is the part where I feel grateful for even being included in your request?" an amused, suave tone said over the phone, making Haruhi blush.

"You know I didn't mean it like that," spluttered Haruhi hurriedly, fighting down the color in her cheeks before she realized that Kyoya couldn't possibly see her. Could he? Then again, that bastard was one of the most perceptive people Haruhi had ever met and the only person in the world capable of making her blush like a pre-teen schoolgirl.

"We could spend all day in this verbal spar but I'm afraid that I have some things needed to be done this millennium. What can I do for you, Haruhi?"

"Oh, yes, well I received a message from Toya last night inviting me to lunch. I just woke up unfortunately so I could only return his call now. Would it be a major imposition on my part to say that I accept?" Good, try to look interested, but not too earnest. Make it seem like a regular old request to visit a friend.

"I have not heard of that," said Kyoya but he didn't sound annoyed, only curious. "But since my son took the trouble to make the invitation, I have no right to stop it. This could be profitable for either of us."

Haruhi had to raise an eyebrow at this. "Profitable?"

"Of course, my dear Haruhi," answered Kyoya. Haruhi could hear the smirk in his voice. "This kills two birds in one stone--please forgive the horrible cliché. Remember that I made the same request of you yesterday but I immediately assumed that it would probably never happen as you seem to be a busy woman, plus it could not only be me who would want some of your time. My son also seems to be quite taken to you, and I could understand that somewhat. This also gives you prime opportunity to see the new garden I had built."

Haruhi's memory clicked. "Yes, that garden. You were having it built after Toya's birth and I never got to see it. It should be brilliant by now."

"The roses are quite enchanting. Blooming pretty well this time of year. Anyway, back to the original topic. This is short notice but Toya must have alerted the kitchen so they could have prepared already. We'll have a late lunch, shall we? A car will pick you up from the hotel in an hour. See you then. Thank you for accepting the invitation." This time, there was a smile in his tone. If Haruhi could see him now, she would have been shocked at the mixed emotions in the Ootori's face--incredulity, delight, irritation and most of all, predatory.

"And thank you for inviting me in the first place. Tell Toya that I'm coming, please."

"My pleasure. See you in an hour."

"Yes, bye."

"Good-bye, Haruhi."

There was a click and Haruhi could hear the long beep that followed. As she put down the receiver, she couldn't help but shiver. Kyoya was acting like his usual self but there was something in tone that implied something that was bordering…dangerous.

Pegging it down to jet lag-induced paranoia, Haruhi glanced at the clock.

Crap, when Kyoya said one hour, he really meant one hour.

She rushed to the bathroom, completely missing the blinking in the answering machine, a message that she received last night as she slumbered.

--

Kyoya pressed down the button that killed the connection with Haruhi. It was getting interesting, and quite irksome, this whole situation was.

He rubbed his temples fiercely. He was thinking…and talking…like Yoda again. He had to got to stop Toya from watching Star Wars again and dragging him along as well. No, it would always be precious to him, the short time he could just sit down with a bowl of popcorn and soda to enjoy a movie with his son. It didn't matter what the movie was.

He stood up from his comfortable perch on his swivel chair and went for the kitchen, his mind whirring at what would be nice to serve Haruhi for lunch.

After all, this one simple visit could be do or die for the both of them.

--

The car stopped in front of the hotel's front doors at precisely 12:42 p.m. exactly an hour after Kyoya had cut the conversation. Haruhi managed not to roll her eyes as the driver came out to greet her.

"Tachibana!" said Haruhi happily, and instead of bowing, grabbed the older man flush and placed a kiss on his cheek. She was acting American, and it embarrassed and pleased the old bodyguard to no end. "How have you been?" She disengaged herself from him, still smiling.

"Pretty well, Miss Haruhi," answered Tachibana, smiling wide, trying to ignore the stares from passing people. How that moment must have looked to them, he thought, inwardly chuckling. "And yourself?" He opened the door for her, motioning her to get in.

"Life's been busy," said Haruhi as she and Tachibana were in their seats. She had slid in the passenger seat of the Bentley instead of the back, much too used in the way she always rode cars in the States. Tachibana didn't say anything, but was strangely amused. "I just had five different cases in the past month. Five! It was crazy."

"And it's safe to say that you won them all quite easily, isn't it?" inquired Tachibana. The girl had always been a favorite of his among his mater's friends. They were all loud, obnoxious, and quite irritating at times, but he never resented them, no. They were a welcome relief to his ward, he could see that and it gladdened him.

Tachibana had been working for the family for over thirty years now, and it was him who stood outside the doors of the maternity ward the night Kyoya was born, and did the same for Toya. The grey in his temples and the wrinkles in his forehead were a close indication to his age, but his built and demeanor gave way to his years as a formidable protector of the Ootori household.

Haruhi was unlike the others. For one, she was quiet, though can also be loud. And her commoner ways were weirdly charming. He could see why his master Kyoya was so taken to her. Hell, if he were a couple of decades younger, he wouldn't hesitate to ask this girl out for a coffee.

"Not easily, anyway. So, my spy in the Ootori household," quipped Haruhi. She always called him that for fun and one time, when Kyoya heard her refer to him that way, he actually thought it meant something more than light joshing. "How's Kyoya and Toya had been all these years?"

Tachibana understood. Though she kept contact with them all, it was hard for her to reach Kyoya and vice versa. Both were extremely busy persons and when they could find a window to talk to one another, it was brief and punctuated with certain awkwardness that was due to a certain unforgettable moment in their past. Sometimes, if Haruhi just wanted to know what they were doing, she would call up Tachibana instead and they'd always have a laugh over the phone.

"Kyoya-sama has been quite the same," he replied, going down a smooth hill. "Always busy, never getting enough rest, but he always finds the time to be there for Master Toya. Rarely, if ever did he miss a parent's night. Two weeks ago he had to cancel a huge fifteen-hour meeting in order to attend Master Toya's school play. And what a great play it was. Master Toya was an excellent prince to Sleeping Beauty, though he did refuse to kiss the girl at first."

Haruhi laughed along with him. "That would have been precious. He's too young to think about girls at any rate. So what did he do?"

"The teachers were signaling him to get on with it so he made a compromise: he just kissed her on the cheek instead. I remember having the girl tug my jacket once to ask permission to speak to his father once the play was over. I couldn't say no so I lead him to Kyoya-sama and she talked to him. She never balked in her request and asked if she could have a play date with Master Toya. Then, Kyoya-sama said that it was all right with him if Master Toya was. And you know what Master Toya said?"

"What?"

"He said, and I quote verbatim: 'I'm afraid, princess, that I could not receive such a request as of yet. Please don't be sad. I'm afraid that I have accepted an engagement before your own, and it would be impolite of me to cancel that one. But instead, would you like a stroll around the gardens now? The gardener told me this morning that there are new hydrangeas in the east wall, so would you like to come?'"

"Smooth. He's better than his father and that's saying something. So did they go?"

"Of course. He took her to a nice walk around the gardens, then proceeded to tell her all about hydrangeas. When the girl asked him then to be her boyfriend, he replied that he was already her boyfriend. And he meant that he's just another friend who is a boy. Then he directed her to one of their classmates who he said had a crush on the girl and turns out he was right."

"I swear when that kid grows up, you might have to beat away the girls with a stick. He's a natural host. Maybe he'll establish the second generation of host in Ouran. He's crafty, like Kyoya."

"Doesn't it scare you, how similar he is to Master Kyoya?" asked Tachibana, voicing out those thought for the first time in five years.

"No. I just think it adds to their charm as a loving father and son. If I had children, I would have been proud to have been seen so connected with my child as to be indistinguishable from them yet still remain our own individual identities."

Tachibana knew right then and there that Haruhi might be the person to either strengthen or destroy that connection.

--

"Haruhi!" crowed Toya happily as he greeted their guest. He had been standing by the door for the past hour or so as soon as his father said that Haruhi was coming over for a late lunch. Thank God that he had refused brunch in favor of his new airplane model.

"How are you, Toya?" said Haruhi, her arms already open wide for a hug. Toya immediately ran into her arms, grinning happily.

"I'm fine, how about you?" said Toya, letting go.

"A bit tired," answered Haruhi flippantly. "The opening went on forever yesterday. They gave us this day as some sort of grace period before they kill us the next few days with the really boring stuff."

"Do mine ears deceive me?" spoke up Kyoya from an archway. "Haruhi saying that anything related to her career is boring? Tachibana, would you kindly check the forecast and see if a blue moon is due tonight?" he added, showing a rare glimpse of humor.

Tachibana grinned. "Absolutely, Master Kyoya." He whipped out an Apple iPhone from a breast pocket. "No blue moon, I'm afraid. But apocalypse is nearing as we speak."

Haruhi laughed along with the others. The household was so much more relaxed than she remembered it years ago.

Fuyumi burst in at that second to grab Haruhi in a hug. "Haruhi! Long time no see! How are you? You look thin and frail. You must be overworking yourself again; it's not healthy. Come; let me fatten you up so that when you go back to America, you have enough to keep you alive when you starve yourself again for your work."

Kyoya had always been amused at how his older sister fussed around Haruhi like a mother hen. He recalled of a time when Fuyumi actually expressed a wish to be her sister, and Honey made the situation worse when he piped up for that to happen, Kyoya would have to marry Haruhi. The uproar it caused was epic in proportions. Fuyumi also tried to befriend Naoko but the younger woman was too reserved and too formal, so she gave up.

Toya glanced at Haruhi up and down. His aunt may be on to something. He grabbed Haruhi's hand, mimicking Fuyumi as they both dragged the poor girl to the dining room.

"We prepared a feast in case you were hungry," said Fuyumi as she pushed Haruhi down a seat. "Of course, I didn't forget your favorite." She uncovered a dish to reveal a plate of the finest ootoro in Japan. Fuyumi settled on a seat beside her while Toya took the other side. "Now eat up."

Haruhi needed no further nudging as she ate, while the Ootoris around her watched in quiet delight.

--

"This garden is truly spectacular, Kyoya," praised Haruhi as she touched the velvet petal of a white rose. After lunch, they had decided to take a stroll around the newly renovated gardens as Kyoya had promised over the phone. Toya had taken her hand and had led her every which way while his father stepped behind them, watching their antics. Fuyumi had gone home when she received a phone call about one of her children developing a curious rash.

"I spent a lot of time on it," responded Kyoya softly, bending down to examine a particularly lovely specimen of cosmos. "I went through the details myself and argued a lot with the designer on some specifics."

"I imagine that you won in the end," mused Haruhi, crouching low at his side. Toya looked put off at being ignored but chose to remain by his new friend.

"Of course, I was the one paying her to do her job, wasn't I?" he said.

"Typical you," Haruhi snorted but her voice held no malice.

Kyoya couldn't tell her that the real reason why he spent so much time in the garden was because of a simple dream. Naoko was at the eight month of her pregnancy when he dreamt that he was in the middle of the most beautiful field he had ever seen. Blossoms carpeted the ground while trees scattered about provided shade in the corners. The sky was a bright blue and the sun winked from its perch up above. Kyoya walked around the field, until he came by a twisted tree at the top of the hill. A large, white swing hung on one of its low branches and there sat Naoko, holding a bundle in her arms.

Dream-Naoko smiled at him, and he thought that she looked absolutely beautiful at that moment. She glanced down at her arms and he noticed that she was holding an infant who was slightly dozing, looking innocent and pure, safe in the midst of such beauty.

Kyoya picked a flower from the vine that was twisting in one of the swing's ropes and tucked it behind Naoko's ear. She smiled wider in appreciation.

Kyoya asked wordlessly if the baby was who he thought it was. He was answered with a nod and she held out the baby to him.

And the dream was shattered by the loud beeping of his alarm clock. Blearily, he switched it off, rolling to his side. Naoko had her back to him, still dozing. He felt cheated that she should still sleep while he needed to get up on five minutes. Then again, he had read a whole lot of pregnancy texts to help her and thanked the heavens that he was born male.

The dream came back to him and he smiled, scooting over to her side of the bed and enveloping her in a warm embrace while he lovingly stroked her very pregnant belly. A sense of wonder enveloped him as he thought that his child was inside her tummy--a living breathing human that was half him, half his, but his whole everything.

Naoko turned to the source of warmth, glaring sleepily at her husband.

"Shouldn't you be getting ready for work?" she asked, instead of a good morning.

"I have a few minutes," he replied gently. "I just want to savor it, that's all." Not knowing that it would be the last few times he would be tender with her.

Naoko extracted herself, slipping on her silk slippers. "The baby must think that my bladder is a squeeze toy," she grumbled irritably as she went for the bathroom.

Kyoya sighed and made to ready himself for another harrowing day at work.

The garden was finished a few months after Toya's birth. He had wanted to recreate that scene from his dream, even importing the delicate swing all the way from France and searching thousands of forestry for a replica of the tree. But Naoko wasn't too keen on the idea of being outside too much unless it involved shopping time with her girls. In fact, it had always been him to pay a lot of attention to their son during his infant days. He, after twenty hours of meetings straight, would get up at 3 a.m. almost every night to change the baby's diapers or offer him some milk. Naoko rarely breastfed him and would rather pump milk into a bottle.

Presently, Kyoya shook his head to dispel the sad memory. Naoko never really cared for Toya and he had a feeling that once she felt that she had done her duty to the family by squeezing out a male heir, she didn't need to do anymore. He just wished that he saw all that even before he married her. He was able to tell anybody's personality after just a single meeting so what had failed him then?

Unthinkingly, he plucked the cosmos that he was examining and tucked it behind Haruhi's ear, who stared at him with a mixture of pleasure, confusion, and embarrassment, that deepened further when his fingers involuntarily stroked her cheek and jaw.

"'The flower's beauty shines when adorning an even more beautiful woman,'" he quoted from one of his long-forgotten texts that he used to read in high school.

Haruhi couldn't stop the small smile on her lips. She turned to Toya who was getting really annoyed. "How does it look on me?"

"Really pretty, but there are more flowers here that would suit you better," said Toya, pulling her to another part of the backyard.

Kyoya sighed as he made to his feet as well. Sometimes, when he replayed that dream in his head, it was Haruhi's face he could see. Never again did he see Naoko's.

--

It was nearing sunset when the three had grown tired of the gardens. They repaired to the house for some refreshment when Tachibana came running to greet them by the back patio.

"I tried to stop her, Master Kyoya, but she was adamant in coming in," he huffed and Kyoya's heart was filled with dread. Why now, just when things were going great in his life? Fate had to drop another bombshell in his path.

He rushed to the receiving room, where he could hear loud voices. He recognized one of his maids, Aki, talking in that soft yet strong manner of hers. The other voice was quite unfamiliar. It was strangely high-pitched and loud, like the wailing of an unpleasant siren.

"Who are you?" the high-pitched voice commanded. "I've never seen you before but rest assured that I can have you fired in an instant."

It was cue for Kyoya to step inside the room.

"I'm afraid that the hiring and firing in this household is handled by me, not anybody else," he said authoritatively, "so your job is safe, Aki-san. Please go back to your duties, I will handle this."

Aki was reluctant to leave her master alone with this noisy woman but she respected the man too much to obey a direct order. She nodded and padded out the door, but didn't close it.

The woman collapsed on the couch, crossing her legs angrily as she searched her purse and pulled out a cigarette case and a lighter.

"Honestly, the staff these days!" she huffed, placing a cigarette between mauve lips. "Decent ones are hard to find."

Kyoya stood rooted in his spot, staring at the woman before him. She had changed a lot. Her hair was no longer its dark shade but was dyed to be considered blonde, her nose was sharper, her chest bigger, and the amount of make-up she wore would make any keba proud. Her expensive taste in clothing shone in her Dior dress that was cut too low at the front.

"It's…nice to see you again, Naoko," his voice strangled at the cursed sentence.

"You're looking pretty good yourself, Kyoya," smirked Naoko, preparing to light her fag.

Kyoya coughed. "Smoking is strictly prohibited in this house. Please step outside if you want to damage your lungs but please be considerate enough not to make everybody else ill."

Naoko snarled, crushing the cigarette in her palm while stuffing the lighter back in her purse. She dropped the crumpled tobacco in one of the expensive vases by the couch's side. Kyoya made a mental note to throw the vase out and have the couch burned. While he was at it, the whole room—no, whole house needed to be fumigated.

"You always were no fun," she pouted.

"What are you doing here, Naoko?" he said, leaning against one of the tables for support.

"I can't see my ex-husband and son when I want?" she demanded.

"It was in section five, clause C of the contract you signed," Kyoya retorted automatically. He had given her a total of one hundred million yen in property and money in exchange for her signature. Figures that she would forget everything she put down her name for.

"He is still my child. I'll fight you to the courts if I have to and file for visitation rights," she threatened but it meant nothing to the Ootori.

"What rights? You gave them all up when you left him for some bastard to America while you both wasted away the millions I gave you in alimony!" His temper flared, now showing all the repressed rage he harbored for his ex-wife.

"Don't you dare shout at me!" she screamed, shooting to her feet.

"Father, what's wrong?" asked a small voice from the open doorway. Kyoya turned around and saw Toya, clutching at Haruhi's skirt tightly while the girl held him protectively. He looked afraid as his friend looked on apprehensively.

Kyoya was about to answer that it was nothing when Naoko crooned behind him, "Toya? Is that you? You've grown so much!" She ran to him but he just burrowed himself even deeper in Haruhi's skirt then ran behind her when the scary lady approached.

Naoko mock-pouted. "I'm your mother, don't you recognize me? You should call me Mommy from now on."

Toya peeked around from behind Haruhi's legs. "You're my mother?" He stared at the nasty looking lady in front of him, and up at Haruhi who was slightly smiling at him in reassurance.

Toya raised his arms up to Haruhi to be carried and the girl complied, shifting his weight on her hip. It made Naoko frown and she glared at Haruhi. Toya noticed this and encircled his short arms around her neck, his cheek pressed to hers.

What he did next made all three adults in the room stop.

"I don't know you," he declared. "You're not my mommy. Haruhi's my new mommy now. Go away." He turned to Haruhi who was staring at him wide-eyed. "Come on, let's go to my room. I want to show you my new PlayStation 3."

Haruhi glanced at Kyoya, ignoring the stabbing glares she received from Kyoya's ex-wife. The Ootori nodded dumbly, gesturing for them to go.

Haruhi could only obey.

To Be Continued

A/N: Okay, not really much, but I was strained for time. This story has gotten quite a few more reviews and reads than I had anticipated and it made me so happy. You guys so rock! Huggles for all! In appreciation, here is chapter two. It's the first time I wrote something like this, where the focus is not on the two supposedly main characters, but more on familial conflicts. So this story may take a while to develop, even if it's only going for few chapters. Please be patient and bear with my imperfections as a writer. Props to the ones who could point out to me the Friends quote.

This chapter is for Asurahaya020 who made a fan art for my one-shot, Convincing Haruhi but due to the incompetence of the site, it could not be viewed because of an error. Nevertheless, she is due gratitude and praise so this one is for you! The link is in my bio, so if anyone could see it, could you kindly e-mail it to me or something? Thanks a lot!

Disclaimer: Nope. Hatori Bisco still hadn't signed the contract I gave her that hands ownership of Kyoya to me. I need a new lawyer.