Haruhi was disgruntled that she had to go with Kyoya to her doctor's visit. She was seeing Yuuchi getting her shots to go to America, as well as taking off her walking cast.

She wanted to have Takashi go with her, or go alone, honestly. Kyoya told her about his father's request and wanted to roll her eyes at the audacity of the man. But they each had a part to play. Her father was working diligently with Kyoya on taking Ootori-san down, and it couldn't be soon enough. With any luck, they would be able to do all of it before she returned to Tokyo for Christmas.

The room was sterile, all white and she sat on the small exam table on the edge, her back ramrod straight as she looked ahead.

"I'm sorry, Haruhi," Kyoya said.

She looked over at him and frowned. He wasn't on his laptop or scribbling in his notebook. He stood there, his hands loosely at his side as he stared at her. "I know you would prefer not to have me here."

She sighed. There was no need to take it out on him. He was just following his father's edict and it was for the best. The less he suspected, the better. "I'm not mad at you Kyoya-senpai. I'm just frustrated."

"Hmm," he hummed in the back of his throat. "While we're here, I think it's best you call me Kyoya as you did while at my parents. My brother may report back to my father."

"Does everyone do his bidding?"

"Sadly, yes. Yuuchi is the heir apparent and follows our father's lead. Father holds that over my brother's head all the time."

"That's awful," she said. "I can't wait until this is over with."

There was a knock on the door and Yuuchi walked in and smiled at Haruhi and gave a short nod to his brother.

Haruhi liked Yuuchi when his father wasn't hovering. He was kind and patient with her.

"Haruhi how are you dear?" he said as he entered the room and closed the door.

Haruhi gave him a bland answer. She was fine, well, as fine as she could be all things considered. She didn't think he wanted to hear what an ass his father was being, and this was all a painful ruse to take him down.

Yuuchi took his time examining her, and Kyoya would pip up and ask questions about the tenderness in her ribs, and when they took off the boot asked about physical therapy.

"There's no need for that," Haruhi said.

"Haruhi," Kyoya warned.

"No," she said, placing her hand on his arm. "My father has been giving me exercises to do each day. I think that's why I am gaining strength in my foot."

Kyoya blinked at her and then gave her a small nod, "I suppose your father would know how to handle this situation."

"Yes, that's fine," Yuuchi said. "Just make sure you reach out to me if there is an issue. I'm going to give you my card so you can call me and speak to me directly if you have any problems or questions while in America."

He scribbled something on the back of the card and smiled as he handed it to her. "This is my direct cell number, call me anytime."

"But, the time difference," she said looking down at the card.

He waved his hand elegantly, "You're practically family now, Haruhi. Don't worry about that."

"Thank you," she said with a frown and tucked the card in her pocket.

"Now, time for your shots."

He called in the nurse to aid him. The nurse, who had a blank look on her face carried in a tray full of shots that were neatly labelled. Kyoya looked them over and nodded satisfied that everything was in order.

"I got this, Rei," Yuuchi said.

The nurse dithered for a moment and then swept out of the room without a word.

Haruhi looked at the wall and tried not to flinch as the shots were given. She hated needles and put on a brave face. She had been through hell and back the last few months. What are a few shots?

She went to her happy place which was with Takashi. Since the night that she went with Kyoya to his place, she and Takashi had cooled things down between them. They still kissed and held each other, but nothing else exciting was out for now. He apologized the next day for what happened between them. At first, she had been hurt thinking he regretted the whole thing, but he explained that he wanted to get to know her as a couple and sharing their bodies should be carefully considered because once they do, that was it for him. He also told her he had all he could do to stop at that moment and didn't want her to regret anything that happened between them. They would go at their own pace and there was no rush.

She agreed in a way with him. She wasn't ready emotionally for that step. Perhaps in several months from here, but she had to concentrate on getting to America and starting at Harvard. She didn't need the distractions.

She was brought back from her musings when Yuuchi pulled a shot from his pocket and looked down at it with a complex look on his face. "There's another shot I wish to speak to you and Kyoya about."

"What is that I don't recognize it?" Kyoya asked.

"Well," Yuuchi blushed and rubbed the back of his neck. "It's a shot to prevent pregnancy."

Haruhi blanched and scooted back. "That's not necessary," she said. "I'm going to America next week and won't be needing that while there." She cleared her throat. "I wouldn't get any use from it seeing how Kyoya and I will be separated for extended periods of time."

He smiled gently at her, "I understand, but this shot will stay in your system for months. When you come back during the Christmas holidays, I can give you the next dose. You'll be protected starting next week, and then for six months after that."

She raised a brow at him. He looked uncomfortable. She and Takashi were not at the point, but would they be when she returned from America during Christmas?

Maybe.

"Was this father's suggestion?" Kyoya asked sharply, surprising Haruhi.

"Well, yes," Yuuchi said with a frown looking down at the shot.

Haruhi knew then she had to play along. "That's fine, Kyoya. It won't hurt anything even though we'll get no use out of it for some time." She wanted to make it clear to Yuuchi that she and Kyoya-senpai were not going to have sex any time soon. Not that they would ever. If it appeased the asshole, then so be it.

"Will it affect the other shots in her system?" Kyoya asked.

Yuuchi relaxed and stepped next to her and prepared her arm for yet another shot. "No," he said, a small smile tilting his lips. He looked younger when he did that, and Haruhi smiled in return.

When they were finished, Kyoya-senpai offered to take her to lunch. She wished to decline to return to her estate and start packing but he was persistent.

They were settled in their seats in an upscale restaurant and Haruhi looked over the menu.

"Fancy tuna?" Kyoya-senpai said with a twist of his lips.

"You know me well," she said dryly.

Tucking into their meal, Haruhi saw a flash of a camera and blinked. "What the hell?"

Kyoya paled and then turned red. He leaned towards her just as there was another flash and frowned. "I recognize the photographer, they work for the Ootori family."

Haruhi's temper rose and sucked in a deep breath. Now there would be a scandalous article in the damned paper and Takashi would see it. She stood and tossed her napkin on her unfinished meal and grabbed her purse and marched out of the restaurant.

"Haruhi, wait!"

She ignored him.

He grabbed her arm, and she yanked it from his grasp. "Was this your doing?" she seethed.

"Keep it down," he said and grabbed her arm once more and dragged her towards the limo.

He was surprisingly gentle as he handed her into the limo and barked out her address. He leaned back and pinched the bridge of his nose as it pulled away.

She tapped her foot and waited for him to speak. She knew full well that he wouldn't work until he was ready to.

He looked up at her and adjusted his glasses so the glare was there. She couldn't see his eyes and it frustrated her. "No," he said and raised his hand when she went to speak. "The restaurant we were at has a standing table for the Ootori''s. I'm sure someone called the paparazzi when they saw me. I'm also sure it has something to do with my father."

"But, Takashi," she whispered. "He's going to see that."

He frowned and let out a small huff. "He knows we are friends, and he also knows what game we are playing."

"My relationship with Takashi isn't a game," she snapped at him, her fists clenched.

"I know that," he growled at her. "Everyone knows that!"

He took a calming breath and looked over at her, but this time she could see his eyes. They looked earnest when he spoke. "Look, we tell Mori-senpai what happened. I'm sure he'll understand. You go out to lunch with the twins and the others all the time."

"That may be true, but I don't end up in the tabloids over it."

"That's because of your commoner status before. They know the twins and their family. They probably thought you were a potential model. In fact, you do model for them from time to time."

She was quiet for a moment and then sighed, all the anger evaporated. The only thing left was apathy. "I still don't like it," she grumbled as she crossed her arms and looked out the window. "I feel as if my choice of Takashi is being trampled over."

"Would you feel that way if you were dating me?"

She whipped her head to the side so fast, her neck cracked under protest. "We wouldn't have any privacy if I were to date you Kyoya-senpai. You know this. Your father would use me as a pawn for one of his games. Besides, you know we'd kill each other. Why do you bring that up, again?"

He looked cool and collected as he looked at her, but she could see hurt in his eyes. "I was just thinking what it would be like to really date you."

"Kyoya," she said, her voice a warning.

"I know," he said with a sigh. "you're with Mori-senpai. I can see the merits of having you as mine."

"That's the thing, everything has to have merits with you!" she snapped. "You couldn't possibly be with anyone that doesn't hold merit or give something to the Ootori name. Why? Can't you just fall in love with someone with who you have common interests?"

He barked a laugh, "No," he said. "Everything I do is for the Ootori name. That's the way I've been raised. I didn't and don't have a choice."

"What if when you best your father and take over his companies... again. What about then?"

"You know I'm emotionally bankrupt as my father," he said. "I'm not looking for that kind of relationship."

"And yet you could see the merit of dating me, thanks, Kyoya, that's sweet."

He leaned closer to her, and Haruhi pressed her back against the door of the limo. "I said I could see merits to it because I believe you're the only one I could see myself changing for. I would do everything in my power to keep you as mine."

She pressed her palms against his chest and shoved but he didn't move. "Kyoya, unless you have a death wish and want me to continue to help you, I suggest you move. You're one of my best friends, but I won't stop Takashi from hurting you, or that of Honey-senpai if you cross a line." She paused to take a breath, "Or my brother."

He blinked and leaned away from her. "I'm sorry about that," he said running his hand through his hair. "I got carried away. I just needed you to know you have options."

She snorted out a laugh," Takashi is my only choice. I love him, Kyoya. I almost died if you recall."

"I recall," he said dryly.

"My point is that my life as I had known it has been ripped to shreds, and I'm trying to put the pieces back together. Takashi keeps me grounded. I need him as much as I need air to breathe. He's everything to me. He keeps me whole when the world wants to swallow me up. By some strange miracle, he feels the same. I'm fortunate that my father, my new father, has given me a choice in who I date, and to live my life. I won't take that for granted as besmirching his name by dating someone and cheating on them causes a scandal. I personally have too much honour for that."

"I understand," he said flatly.

"Kyoya-senpai," she said turning towards him. "Don't shut the world out. I know you're trying to best your father right now, but that will come to an end. And then what? Where will you be?"

"I'll be recognised as the Ootori heir as I always wanted to be."

"Why? Why that goal? You don't need him. You never have. Your father's approval should mean nothing to you. Build your empire with your own rules. As I said, fall in love with someone who holds no merit that loves you for you, not what you can bring to them. You'd be surprised how freeing that feels."

He took a deep breath and held it for a moment before he gave a small curt nod. "I'll think about what you've said."

The limo came to a stop, and she twisted her body and grabbed the handle of the door, "Please do." Her face became hard as she looked at him. "You know I consider you family, and with that comes love, but never the love you're looking for. Let it be known that if you touch me again or threaten me, I won't need Takashi or the others to take care of it for me." She gave a wicked grin as she shouldered the door and stepped one foot out. "I'll take care of it myself."

She stepped out and slammed the door. She half expected Kyoya to come out of the limo and follow her, but the limo pulled off.

Warm arms surrounded her, and she leaned back in the chest of Takashi and her body finally, fully relaxed. "Takashi," she whispered. She turned around and cupped his cheek, her thumb brushing against the faint stubble. "I need to tell you something, and you're not going to like it."