Chapter 18:

Chapter 18, A Harsh Return

Haruhi sighed as the day progressed slowly. She was back at school and thus far, everything seemed to have gone wrong the moment she arrived in the same vehicle as Satoshi and Yasuchika. She had pondered for most of the day that it might not have been this annoying if the school thought she was still a boy. Every now and then, she would catch the whispers of some of the other female students that she was sleeping around just to elevate her status, or that she was possibly dating one of them. Qurdox would pulse against her chest, trying to sooth her and help her remember that these "humans" didn't know much beyond what they were told or what they saw. He also gently reminded her that they were ignorant to the truth and would often hidden from it if it didn't fit their perception of the world. She managed to get some peace when Nekozawa had shown up with Reiko and asked her to join them for lunch. When Reiko had placed up her shielding ward, both asked what had her so frustrated thus letting Haruhi vent slightly as she give them the run down of what had been happening all morning.

"Most of those girls are from families that wish to have the closeness you possess with Haninozuka-san and Morinozuka-san as well as the others in the Host Club," Reiko stated softly. "I can create a protective charm for you that would reflect their negativity back onto them if you would like."

"That might be a good idea Reiko-san," Haruhi sighed. "Though just a shield would probably be less taxing. I'm not sure how much more of their pettiness I can take before I break under the pressure and do something I may come to regret in the future. Sometimes I think it would have been better if the rest of the school didn't know I was a girl."

"I'm sorry to interrupt," a cool voice spoke. "But I was passing by."

All three looked up and Haruhi froze at seeing the tall silhouette of Ayame. Her stern brown eyes looked over Haruhi before glancing at Nekozawa and Reiko.

"How did you..." Haruhi muttered, her confusion evident.

"Miss Jounouchi is a Mage as well," Reiko answered. "Her family makes some of the most intricate defensive spells in the Society."

"Your ward is good," Ayame spoke calmly towards Reiko. "But it needs a secondary layer to keep out intruders that pass by if they have the strength to sense it."

Reiko nodded as Ayame sat down.

"Kyoya asked that I come find you. He has been given a list of the rumors currently spreading around since this morning about your arrival today. However, some of the ones you stated aren't on that list and I am sure he will want to know them. But that is for later. I came to arrange our study sessions for school work so that it won't hinder your lessons with Haninozuka-senpai and Morinozuka-senpia as well as the lessons for Nekozawa-senpai's mother."

"Well, at the moment," Haruhi stated. "They would like to do my martial arts lessons twice a week, on Wednesdays, since that is the normal day for the Kendo and Judo clubs here at Ouran, and Saturdays since it is a weekend."

"Mother would like you to attend her lessons at least once a week," Nekozawa added. "Perhaps they can be done on Friday so that we can send you straight to the Morinozuka or Haninozuka estate after the lessons are done."

"Then we could either keep our sessions on Tuesdays after school and Hosting hours or move them up to Mondays," Ayame concluded.

"How about we have the tutoring after school on Mondays and meet in the morning during zero session?" Haruhi offered. "That way, I can catch up on the work from the previous week if I didn't have the time on Sunday and make sure everything has stuck and is correct before I turn it in. The Host club is trying to set it up so that Mondays are the day we can iron out the plans for the whole week so it would just be meetings after school."

Ayame nodded. "That will do fine then."

Haruhi watched as she stood and walked away but paused before leaving the gazebo.

"Haruhi-chan," she paused. "Do you know why Tamaki has been acting strangely the past few weeks? Well...more so than normal?"

"I don't know all of the details," she stated. "But I do know that it has something to do with his grandmother trying to pressure him into a marriage with someone."

"I see. If you learn more, will you inform me please? I worry about him even if I shouldn't."

"Sure."

"Thank you," Ayame said quietly.

Haruhi nodded as the tall woman walked away, a small pang of worry and sorrow hit her.

"Miss Jounochi has strong positive feelings for Suoh-senpai," Reiko spoke softly.

"Have you seen anything that pertains to what is going on with him Reiko?" Nekozawa asked.

"I have not, but I will attempt to do so this evening. The bell will ring soon. I am glad we were able to get you away from the poisonous words of lesser people. I will also attempt to have the charm for you by the end of the week."

Haruhi flinched at the cold tone but smiled slightly at Reiko's words. She thanked them for spending lunch with her and moved to leave. As she walked back towards the school from the garden, she felt a cold trill travel down her spine as it felt like she was being watched. Haruhi quickly turned around but didn't see anyone since Nekozawa and Reiko had gone into a different section of the garden. She brought her hand up to the Jade form of her dragon and tightened her hand around it before turning and quickly moving through the garden to the building. Her pace quickened as the chill got stronger and stronger. She was close to running before she rounded a corner and bumped into someone.

"I'm sorry," she said hurriedly as she bowed low in apology.

"No harm done," a cold voice spoke.

Haruhi froze and shakily looked up. She recognized the voice. Before her stood a man with long black hair tied in a low ponytail at the base of his neck. He was dressed in a black suit with a deep crimson dress shirt and had no tie. She began to shake when his cold blue eyes met hers and recognition flashed through them. She tried to quickly take several steps backwards but the man's arm quickly flashed out and grabbed the front of her shirt and vest, pulling her to him.

"After nearly eleven years," he chuckled. "I find you again but this time, your mother isn't here to get in the way."

As the man tried to pull her closer, Haruhi felt Qurdox pulse before forming around her in his full size. The man yelped and moved backwards in surprise at the near deafening roar the dragon gave.

"Seems like she still protects you even from the grave," he growled out, glaring at Qurdox.

Qurdox let out a low and threatening growl and she caught faint movement from behind the wall of scales. The man was about to raise his hand to cast but a sudden surge of pain to the back of his head made him stumble. Turning quickly he froze at the deep crimson eyes of the youngest Morinozuka son.

"I'm not sure who you are," Satoshi hissed, his fangs gleaming dangerously in the sunlight. "Nor do I care but if you mean harm to my friend, I won't hesitate to kill you!"

"Young vampire," the man tried to soothe, subtly trying to cast a Calming spell. "I mean no harm to her. She is part of my family, and I wanted to see if she was okay. She has been away from us for so long."

"Who do you think you are fooling?" Yasuchika said as he walked out from behind a wall of roses, his eyes also a bright crimson. "You are a mere human mage. We are Pure Borne. You can't lie to our senses. Nor will your weak spell work on us."

Haruhi began to breath a little easier when she saw Satoshi's short black spiky hair, she calmed a great deal more the moment she heard both him and Yasuchika speak. They had been on their way back to class when they felt Qurdox's aura wrap around the school. Satoshi had also felt the faint rhythm of Haruhi's power quiver through the minor bond forming between her and his family, which had him immediately pulling out his phone while Yasuchika did the same, both calling their brothers while running towards the great dragon's aura. Both knew for a fact that their brother and cousin were going to be livid when they learned. Yasuchika only paused when he saw Kyoya walk around a corner and with one look at the older teens full black eyes told him all he needed to know and quickly tried to catch up with his cousin while Kyoya opened a Void Gate.

"So you are part of the Katayama family," Kyoya's cold voice echoed, slightly distorted due to his active magic.

Haruhi could feel the dark anger in her senpai's voice and Qurdox coiled tighter around her, making sure that any rouge magic wouldn't touch her. The man looked around and froze again at the sight of a dark circle of energy forming before seeming to rip open with dark and oppressive energy. Haruhi watched in awe as Kyoya walked out of it, the uniform she saw him in that morning gone, replaced with long midnight slacks and a deep blue vest-shirt that was partially open showing a slightly toned chest. Along his arms were the dark flames of his demonic blood, his eyes completely black and his glasses were nowhere to be seen. The man gulped slightly and tried to take a few steps backwards but bumped into someone that made Haruhi's heart stutter a couple beats when she managed to catch a glimpse from around Qurdox's coiled body before feeling two hands rest on her shoulders. She glanced behind her and saw Mori with a concerned look and quickly turned into his chest, wrapping her arms around him. Mori looked through the coiled form of Haruhi's dragon and held back a smirk as the man slowly turned to look behind him and began shaking in fear at the cold gaze that met his.

Trekiva glared at the man before him, his eyes slowly bleeding to a shade of crimson that was only a few hues short of black. He had been with Mori and Hunny when their brothers called and had felt the pulse of his old friend's power. When Trekiva began to feel the fear and dread of his child begin to hum around him, he summoned his Darkness and opened a Door for the two boys with him to where Haruhi was. He had manipulated his Shadows to set Mori behind Haruhi, which he noticed had calmed his child greatly the moment the silent male had placed his hands on her shoulders, and had Hunny blocking the only other avenue of escape for the fool before him. When he spoke, there was an edge to it that would make even the coldest wind in a winter storm seem warm.

"You send fear through a child of my blood and claim to carry peace. I claim you a falsifier. Leave now and live; remain, and you shall die."

With fear radiating off of him, the man bowed his head and vanished with a soft pop. After a few moments, Trekiva stepped away from where the man had stood and walked over to a shaking Haruhi as Qurdox uncoiled and reverted to a smaller form. His eyes softened as he reached over and gently ran a hand through her hair while Mori held her to his chest.

"Young Ootori," he said softly. "I will be taking her with me and Takashi will be with us."

Kyoya nodded and let his human visage return, his attire changing back to his school uniform in a slow morph of colors. He placed his glasses back on his face before pulling out his phone and making a few calls, one of which was to the Morinozuka estate explaining why the eldest son wouldn't be home later that evening. Once the calls were completed, he bowed softly to Trekiva. With a nod in return, the ancient vampire summoned his Darkness around the two teenagers and dragon before fading into the shadows himself.

"Ootori-senpai," Satoshi asked, finally calm enough to speak without hissing. "Who was that and how did he know Haruhi?"

Kyoya pulled out his black book and opened it. "Akito Katayama, age 42, single. He is the current heir to the Katayama Conglomerate. Genetically speaking, he is Haruhi's oldest cousin. His father was Kotoko's eldest brother."

"What did he want with her?" Hunny asked, his voice dark.

"I believe this might coalesce with the attack on Friday. When my Void returns with his report, I will have more information."

"I want to be there when he reports."

"I have no argument," Kyoya stated. "In fact, I will arrange for his report to be done at your home since this involves Haruhi's safety."

"Kay. Should we tell Neko-chan and his family?"

"They may already be aware of what has happened but it would be best to inform them nonetheless," Kyoya sighed.

Satoshi nodded as he turned to run and find the cat obsessed University student, having seen him not the long before coming around the corner to help Haruhi, Yasuchika following shortly after. Hunny nodded to Kyoya in silent communication about what to do next. Both knew that telling Tamaki and the twins would be a horrendous idea but one of them would have to remain with those three so that they wouldn't bother looking for Haruhi. Kyoya watched as Hunny went into the high school, smirking as he heard several girls squeal at seeing the Loli-Shouta in the halls despite it being the middle of the day. He sent a quick mental message to Quin'Derax about where he would be reporting before heading back inside himself, pausing to speak with Ayame before heading to class.

*~*0o0o0o0o0*~*

Quin'Derax looked up from the phone his master had given him when the car came to a gentle stop. The phone itself wasn't much but it functioned well enough, even though his master didn't need to use it to commune with him. Others used it to keep in contact with him, as was to be expected. As he put it away, the door opened and he thanked the taxi driver for the ride, paying him a little extra for the pleasant company. Having a mortal visage helps get extra tidbits of some fascinating things, he thought with a smile. He looked up towards the large manor and slowly walked to the gate, pressing a button on the panel under a security camera.

"What is it?" a voice cracked over the intercom.

"It's Kyne," he stated blandly.

"Oh, one moment sir."

Soon the gates opened and Quin'Derax walked through. The large manor was made out of a mix of steel and wood with a few touches of marble or granite here and there to add a bit of color. When he walked up the four steps to the main entrance, the large white oak door opened and a short man bowed to him in greeting. To the people in the house, he was a foreigner that had come to help their master with some sort of task. The staff, and other mages, believed he couldn't understand Japanese so the masters of the house had a skilled translator hired to help him. What they didn't know was that he understood perfectly what they were saying, he just feigned ignorance which allowed him to hear the words spoken over the words given. He listened to what the translator said but he paid more attention to what was spoken between the others without making it seem like he knew what was said, or paying much attention to the quiet conversations around him. He knew that they had told the translator not to repeat everything to him but that was their own folly.

He was a demon and not just any kind of demon but one of the Void. The Shadows around him spoke to him of everything and he had no worry about them sharing anything about him with any of the Shadow or Dark Mages, after all, he was a manifestation of the very thing that created them. He was also near ancient in age, and with such age, came a great deal of knowledge. He knew every language be it still spoken or only found in history. He had learned to play the part of "none-the-wiser" to make sure the enemies of his master didn't figure out everything about him. A trait he picked up from his young summoner, Kyoya. As the servant lead him through the house to the study, he caught the whispers of many of the staff and a few of the visiting mages. It sounding like the heir was back in the house after running some errands and he was not too happy about something.

"...then all of these people showed up thus forcing me to leave!" a male voice barked angrily. "I was this close to being able to get her and it was ruined but that forsaken dragon that bitch had summoned when she was still alive!"

"Calm yourself Akito," another male voice tried to sooth. "You will have another chance but for now bide your time and hold your tongue. It was foolish of you to go there on your own in either case."

The door opened to reveal a man no taller than his master with deep black hair and chilled blue eyes. The Shadows whispered to Quin'Derax about everything that had transpired and the Void held back the surge of anger broiling inside him and the desire to rend the fool to pieces. This foolish child had endangered one that his master ordered to be kept safe! In broad daylight no less! He cleared his throat to let the occupants know he had arrived. Both men turned to look at him and Quin'Derax quirked a brow before speaking in perfect English.

"Am I interrupting something?" he asked. "I heard raised voices from the front door."

He held back a smirk as both men shook their heads while the translator said that everything was fine.

"That's good. I'm sorry to say that I didn't find much at the address you asked me to look into. There was nothing new there of any importance except a few picture that I copied after looking through some boxes that hadn't been there before."

Quin'Derax reached into his coat pocket and pulled out four pictures. One was a snapshot of the Host Club before the start of the new school year when they were at Karuizawa, the second was a picture of the Host Club dressed up as girls with the exception of Takashi Morinozuka, the third was a picture of a woman holding a three year old Haruhi while seated in a chair with Ranka kneeling next to them, and the last was a picture of Haruhi in a zealous pink dress with gaudy make-up. It had taken the demon a few moments to collect himself at seeing that picture and heard the story behind it.

*~*Flashback ( Quin'Derax )*~*

When he arrived at the apartment, he was surprised to see Ranka as well as Lady Sayuki and Lady Michiko going through boxes that had been strewn about in a clear display of the trio looking for something. When they asked why he was there, he told them plainly what was asked of him while he was spying. Needless to say he was surprised at the darkness that wrapped around the normally bouncy cross-dresser. Quin'Derax immediately become guarded when the aura faded rather quickly after he had explained that they had only asked him to look around for anything that would give them an edge to get closer to Haruhi and the others. The flamboyant male smiled wickedly before heading to a closet and pulling out a couple of boxes. From one of the boxes, he pulled out several books, some with more care than others. He handed most of the books to the women before gently touching the second box. When it was opened, it showed several more books that Ranka gently took out and placed in front of the three guests as well. It wasn't until the books were opened that Quin'Derax understood why Ranka pulled them out. They were photo albums filled completely with pictures of a young Haruhi and him as well as some with pictures of the Host Club through out the last year. Ranka didn't speak until they had gone into the last couple books, which he had kept to himself while the others looked through the others. From both of them, he pulled out two pictures.

"If they want any form of an edge," Ranka smiled gleefully. "These pictures will make them go in circles."

Quin'Derax had quirked a brow when he was given the pictures. He couldn't help the small smile that crossed his face at the picture of a little Haruhi with her parents, he thought she was a rather adorable child. Ranka explained that the picture was taken by Misuzu, a good friend and co-worker of Ranka's that had worked at the bar before creating his own business. Misuzu was also the one who took the picture of the Host Club when they went to visit the pension the man owned in Karuizawa. He had smirked at seeing Haruhi in the strange dress being chased around a stage by what he thought was a boy but learned was in fact a female in a male costume, as he was told about the time some girls from St. Lobelia's Academy for Girls had "kidnapped" her so that she would help them in some kind of play. Apparently the senior female was the male in the picture that was chasing Haruhi because they apparently had a crush on her and wanted to steal Haruhi's first kiss from Tamaki. Unfortunately it had already been given to another girl because "Baka-Suoh" as Ranka called him, pushed her into the other girl when he tripped over a banana peel during one of the extravagant events they held last year at the school. He had frozen in shock when he saw the last picture and had to hold back his own laughter, which was hard since for one, Void don't normally laugh, and two, when they do laugh, it is hard to get them to stop. It showed Haruhi on the ground laughing so hard she was crying but really made him pause was that he recognized his summoner despite what he was wearing.

Ranka had immediately started laughing at the pure shock on the demon's face and the utter horror that reflected in his eyes as well as the deeply hidden mirth that was just begging to be let out. Ranka then told him it had taken Haruhi well over an hour, and lots of laughs for her to be able to tell him that the picture was indeed real and those where the members of the Host Club. Lady Michiko had taken the picture looking over every person in the image and immediately begun giggling and said that her eldest son would have made a very cute daughter. Lady Sayuki had frowned slightly when she saw that her eldest was dressed as a male but did state she couldn't imagine him in a dress, it just didn't suit him. Nor did she think that there was a dress that could fit him even if it was made by the Hitachiin twins. Quin'Derax had accepted the pictures carefully before copying them with a portable scanner and printer before giving the originals back to Ranka and leaving with little else. A chuckle escaped him as he left the apartment to head back to the Katayama Manor.

*~*Flashback End ( Quin'Derax )*~*

Quin'Derax bit the inside of his lip as the two men looked over the pictures. He could see that the one of the group in Karuizawa held little interest to them but caught when the elder male saw the picture of Ranka, Haruhi and Kotoko. It was very slight but there was a flash of sorrow and regret in his eyes while the younger man let out an irritated growl. It was the reaction of the last picture that got the best reaction in his mind. Both men looked at the picture of the Host Club in the same stunned horror he had but he knew one thing for certain, those two men wouldn't be able to tell that the "women" in the picture were the other males in the club, save for the only one that was actually dressed as a male.

"This," Akito stuttered before clearing his throat to speak again. "I can tell who one of those people are, but none of the others. Looks like we will need to look a bit more for these people."

"You did well," the older man said, the translator mirroring each word. "Although it is not much, you have done well with what you have provided. It is thanks to you that we know where she is studying and where she lives."

Quin'Derax nodded. "Do you have anything else you need of me?"

"No. You may go."

After the translator finished, Quin'Derax gave a short bow before walking out. As he walked away, he gently coaxed the shadows in the estate to his side. By the time he had gotten to the front door, his brow was creased in worry. Haruhi had been found at school, and Akito Katayama had been confronted by his master. The shadows did tell him that the young girl was being comforted by her love and family but there were a few other things that were nagging at his ethereal mind. Why was Akito at Ouran in the first place? And what does he have planned for when he runs into the others again? With eyes darkening with each passing moment, Quin'Derax decided to retire to the house that the Katayama were letting him reside in before sending a message with his thoughts and concerns via shadow to his master.