Hi! It's been a while...SO turns out that the cast had to be on for a month instead of the initial 2 weeks *sigh*. Have any of you guys ever had a cast? Personally, I never want to go through that again and I only had a hand cast. I'd die with an arm/leg one…

Anyway, this chapter took a while to type up because I really wanted to make this chapter longer (also, I had to re-adjust to doing school work; it has been unexpectedly time consuming). I'm sorry if it's a bit boring though!

Thank you all for reading and for your very much appreciated feedback!

PS: The italics are flashbacks and the regular writing is present time. The bold is just a way to emphasize the word since used italics for flashbacks.

PPS: Has anybody seen Hosts Against Humanity (43 sec one)?

Disclaimer:i do not own Ouran Highschool host club.


1 year before

Haruhi was grinning widely as she repeatedly thanked the man standing in front of her. "Thank you so much! Really...thank you."

The man chuckled. These moments made up for all the terrible ones. All of the ones that brought a sense of failure into so many people. The look on people's faces when he delivered good news exhilarated him. "You're very welcome . Take care now."

"I will...Oh god," she said as she bowed again and backed out of the room. "Bye!" she waved furiously. Was this really happening to her? So this is what it felt like when your dream came true. How would she tell Kyoya? Did she have to throw a party to tell him or would he throw a party when he found out? Oh god…

"Kyoya!" she opened the door with a flourish. It was almost Tamaki-like. "Kyoooyaa," she said in a sing-song voice. She walked around peering into their bedroom, his office, and finally the living room. "Kyoya?" Where was he?

"Master Kyoya has not returned." Kotoko said, walking into the room.

"But he said he'd be back at ten..."Haruhi looked at the digital clock above the television. It was 11. "Oh nevermind, there's still time to tell him." She practically bounced back upstairs, into their bedroom.

Kotoko followed her in case she needed anything. "You look very happy Mrs. Ootori."

Haruhi beamed. "I told you to call me Haruhi, Kotoko. We're friends remember? But yes, I'm very happy. Exceedingly."

"May I ask why Mrs?"

Haruhi thought about it for a moment. "Well, I wanted Kyoya to find out first,but..." Haruhi whispered into Kotoko's ear.

"Oh! Congratulations!"

"I just hope he gets home soon."

Haruhi hummed as she rummaged through her closet. What to wear…She stopped for a second. That was an unexpected thought.

The landline rang. Yes, they still had a landline. What would happen if Haruhi lost her cellphone? Cell phones made Haruhi uncomfortable anyway. Everybody had learned to call the landline first. "Kotoko, can you get that please?" Haruhi held up a blue shirt, then a pink one. She shook her head at both.

"This is the Ootori residence, how may I help you?" Kotoko held the phone to her ear for a few seconds. "Yes, Mrs. Ootori is here," Haruhi turned to look at her. "Would you like to ta- oh..." Kotoko kept the phone up for another while. "Yes, I'll give her your message, sir. Goodbye."

"Who was that?"

"It was Master Kyoya. He said that his meeting is going on longer than expected and that he'll have to meet you at the cafe."

Haruhi's gaze faltered for a moment. Whatever happened to being on vacation? "Oh...well, I guess he can find out along with the others."


Haruhi entered the cafe and immediately saw the twins. How could she miss them? They were at their usual rectangular table with their arms waving around wildly, shouting, "Haruhi! Hey Haruhi, we're over here! Hurry up and sit down!"

She walked over quickly sitting opposite them, ignoring the odd looks and glares people were giving them. "You guys didn't have to scream. I could see you, I'm not blind...or deaf for that matter."

"Whatever happened to greeting people with a nice hello?" Hikaru questioned. His hair was still dyed black. Sometimes she forgot it was once red like his brother's, even though their faces were exactly the same. Striking green eyes and the ever present smirks.

"Yeah. We were only screaming because we haven't seen you in so long." Kaoru added. He hadn't changed much except for his slightly bolder attitude.

" Which reminds us," the twins stood up and lunged at her faster than any human should be able to. They hugged her tightly, pushing each other for more space.

Haruhi laughed and swatted their arms away. "Okay guys, I missed you too."

The twins looked at each other and abruptly let go, staring at her intensely. "Alright, what's up?"

"What do you mean?" Haruhi looked from one to the other with amusement.

"You're really happy."

"So?"

"SO," Hikaru studied her face and circled her slowly. "You're never this happy. Or translucent enough for us to tell."

"Something really good must've happened. I haven't seen you this happy since you're wedding day." Kaoru remarked.

"It's nice to know I can't be happy." Haruhi's expression was still full of amusement.

"Of course you can be happy…" Hikaru said breezily. He sat down across from her and Kaoru followed suit.

"You just have to tell us why."

Haruhi sighed. That's the one thing she realized wouldn't change. Almost 4 years into her marriage and they still considered her their toy. "Fine, I'll tell you guys..."

"Yaaay!"

"...Just as soon as the others get here."

"Awww!"

"Booo!"

The twins crossed their arms and pouted. Haruhi smiled.


A phone rang in the distance. It was an irritatingly shrill, familiar sound. Kyoya groaned, stretching his arm out blindly. He patted around for a moment before finally grabbing it and answering. "Yes?"

"Kyoya, you are to get to the office immediately or you are fired, understood?"

"Excuse me but," Kyoya lifted his head, slightly- for him, very- disoriented. "Who are you?"

"You are not much of a joker Kyoya and I am not amused. We have been working on this deal too long for you to mess up. If you don't get here in 20 minutes you can forget about being the successor of the Ootori Group." The line went dead and the phone started beeping. Kyoya stared at it, confused.

This was his first nap in what seemed like a century (and it was apparently only half an hour long), so of course it took him a while to regain his senses. He'd been up for the past three days straight, pouring everything he had into his only distraction - work. He had not seen Haruhi at all during this time.

Sure there were moments where work made him stay away for months, but this was different. This time there was no guarantee that he'd ever get home to her welcoming smile. Or her warm embrace. Or even to that look Haruhi gave him when he needed a reminder that she could see through him. It seemed like an impossibility now.

"Was that...father?" Kyoya stood up groggily, tripping over his chair's leg in the process.

He yawned and stretched as he walked towards the washroom. The maids watched their boss stumble around the house and debated helping him. On one hand, he was a generous boss (when he was sane and wide awake). On the other hand, the boss could live up to his Demon Lord title when he was sleepy. Most maids shuddered at the latter and simply got out of his way. Kotoko, however, wasn't the youngest head maid ever for nothing.

"Umm, Master Kyoya?" Kotoko called out. Of course she was brave, but not crazy, so she asked him from across the hall. "Do you need assistance with anything?"

"Have you perhaps seen my glasses?"

She paused for a moment, glancing at his hand. "They are in your hand sir…"

He looked down at his hand. "So it seems," he said, putting them on. "Has breakfast been prepared?"

"It- it's past noon now" not to mention he had breakfast before retreating into his office "but if you like I can get the cook to-"

"No need. Just get me some more coffee.'

"More coffee?" Kotoko grimaced at the thought of giving him another mug. He'd get sick at this rate.

"Did I stutter?" he took a step towards her. An ominous aura began to emanate from him and she shrunk back slightly.

"I- I'll go get your coffee, sir," Kotoko bowed and quickly scampered off.

Kyoya rubbed his temples. What was he doing before she interrupted him? Ah yes, he was on his way to shower. What else? His glasses. That's right, he was looking for them. He sighed, now where did he put those again?


"Hey guys!" A taller (2 centimeters taller, to be exact) Mitsukuni Haninozuka skipped towards their table excitedly. "You'll never guess what- Is that a new cake on display?!" Hunny ran towards the cake display case with wide eyes, already pulling out his money. His diet had actually changed too. Now he consumed at least six sweets instead of eight after he had yet another cavity incident the year before.

"Hey Mori sempai." The twins waved.

"Hi Hikaru, Kaoru, Haruhi." Mori said their names, nodding at each. Takashi Morinozuka had made some progress in conversation. Where he usually went "mm", "hmm" or "ah" he could now be heard saying multiple phrases at was largely due to his fiancée. Hana Furukawa.

"How's Furukawa-san?" The first time Haruhi had met Hana she couldn't believe that was Mori's fiancée. Hana was cheerful and extremely talkative (she could probably out-talk Renge). The weirdest thing of all was that Hana never got frustrated at Mori's silence. Haruhi found out later on that this was because Hana had grown up with a quiet family. She hated silence so took it upon herself to become the mood maker in her family. It definitely explained how she could read Mori so perfectly.

"Hana is out of the country visiting her cousins. I should have gone with her."

"Well why didn't you?" The twins chimed in, not at all aware of the lament in his second sentence.

"She insisted I stay for the host's monthly meeting, but I am going out to meet her afterward."

Takashi's eyes shifted slightly when he talked about Hana. It was imperceptible to anybody who hadn't known him for years. Haruhi found herself wishing Kyoya didn't have to wear glasses all the time. He could at least be terrible at hiding his eyes.

"Sorry I ran off," Honey bounced back over to them with a plate of cake in one hand and a fork in the other. His mouth was already stuffed. "This cake is just so good!" A trail of girls awed and cooed after him. "I think it's my favorite!"

"I thought strawberry cake was your favorite." Hikaru said.

"Yeah, and before that it was cookies and cream ice cream cake." Kaoru added.

"Well, every cake is my favorite!"

"Figures." Losing interest, the twins went back to their pending matter with Haruhi.

"Tell us! Tell us!"

"Tell us what?" Honey big eyes peered at Haruhi curiously.

"I can't tell you guys until everybody gets here."

"Tono better get here soon then." The twins leaned back, exasperated.

As if on cue there was a great whoosh of air from the doorway. "Hello, lovely ladies and gentlemen! It is I, Suoh-"

"Just get over here Sempai! You do this every time!" Hikaru shouted.

"Yeah, you're holding up the people trying to come in!"

Tamaki recoiled for about a second before striding towards them. Of course, he threw out his princely dialogue at every girl that crossed his path.

"Careful there, you wouldn't want to bruise that delicate hand of yours."

"Why, yes! My skin is perfect! But it is nothing compared to the obviously natural glow of yours."

"Please don't trouble yourself my lady. If anything I should be the one to help you for I am merely a peasant in the presence of a princess."

"Tama-chan really hasn't changed a bit, huh?"

"Tamaki is just naturally dramatic."

"Overly dramatic if you ask me. It's been years since he graduated. I wonder why he can't get over it?"

"Well maybe he would…" Hikaru began.

"...If he had a wife who could bring him back to earth every once in awhile," Kaoru finished. They all turned to look at her.

"Oh, come on guys. Do we have to go over this every time?"

"No, no," Hikaru waved the question away. "We're just saying."

"No need to get defensive Haruhi."

"Where is Kyo-chan anyway?"

"He'll be here soon." Hopefully. She took one look at the 'if a miracle happens' look on the twins faces and knew they were also recalling all the times she had said that for a no show.

"You guys I'm so happy to see you!" Tamaki hugged Haruhi to near suffocation before moving on and doing the same to the rest. Even the twins.

"I was sure I'd die this morning when," he shuddered. "Renge came to visit."

"Renge?" The hosts exclaimed simultaneously.

"Yes, she demanded to know where we would be meeting. It was terrible! I could practically see my life flashing before my eyes!"

"You didn't give in did you?" The twins began.

" Of course I didn't tell her, but it took so much effort to stay strong when she was at full Medusa mode."

"Hey, why don't we ever invite Renge-chan?"

"Why would we invite that Otaku?" The twins didn't even try to hide their distaste.

"That reminds me," Tamaki looked around. "Where's Kyoya? I thought his father gave him a month off?"

"He did, but emergency after emergency keeps popping up so he's still busy."

"In that case there's no use waiting for him." Kaoru said matter of factly.

"There is never any use waiting for that guy." Hikaru remarked.

Ignoring Hikaru's comment, Honey turned to Haruhi "Kao-chan is right Haru-chan. We should just order."

"That's not what we meant Senpai. We were referring to those news you owe us Haruhi."

"News?" Tamaki spun to look at her. "Could it be that you and Kyoya have finally decided to come live with me?!"

"Never senpai."

Tamaki shrunk back and pulled out his mushroom seeds. "But I get so lonely…"

Kaoru grabbed the seeds. "So you just carry these around?"

Hikaru sighed. "Seriously Haruhi, tell us."

"Fine. The thing is," the hosts leaned in from around the table. "I …" she whispered the last part.

Honey's eyes lit up even more. Mori smiled. The twins slowly turned to look at each other. Tamaki erupted.


The cafe owner stared at his cell phone. Was it that time of the month again? Sure enough he was being called to go calm down the ruckus created by some of his regular customers. Sighing he put on his coat and called out to his wife "I'm off!"
"Don't forget the Hitachiin's autographs! You know our daughter is obsessed with them!" Even she knew it was that time of the month again.

"Will do." With one last sigh and a tiny prayer that this time around he would be able to quiet them more quickly and easily, the cafe manager left his house.


"Here, this is all of the data we have accumulated so far. Our employess have had to work overtime to compile this Kyoya so you better make the presentation as captivating and remarkable as possible. We need these clients, otherwise we will not be able to expand our hospitals to America, understood?"

Kyoya stared blankly at the documents in front of him.

"Kyoya. Kyoya? Kyoya!" Akito snapped his fingers under his little brother's nose until there was a response. Although the response was completely unsatisfactory.

"Ah right. Of course. So…" Kyoya's mind finally seemed to register the documents in front of him. "Oh! Isn't this the data that our employees have compiled?"

Yuuichi clenched his fists and took a deep breath. This was the third time they'd gone over it. "Kyoya...you're becoming an idiot."

Akito facepalmed. Why did the clients insist on having him present the proposal? "Father are you sure that it has to be Kyoya that presents. Surely any of us will do?"

Yoshio stared at Kyoya. "Yuuichi, Akito I need a moment alone with your brother."

"We don't have time for that father! The meeting starts in five-"

Yoshio cut Yuuichi off with a stern glare. "No child of mine will ever speak to me in that tone again."

Yuuichi looked down embarrassed. "I am sorry father."

Yoshio redirected his stare at Kyoya. No child of his could possibly become an idiot either. "You are excused." The eldest brothers bowed and exited.

"Kyoya."

"Yes father?"

Yoshio turned so that he was facing the giant window in his office, his back to his third son. "I hear your wife has asked for a divorce."

Kyoya didn't even try to hide his panicked and saddened eyes. "She has."

"Sign those papers."

"What?" For the first time in three days Kyoya's response was immediate and alert.

"Sign the divorce papers. You cannot keep somebody in a marriage against their will. If the commoner decides to talk to the press the scandal would be bigger than if you simple got divorced." There was no response so Yoshio went on. "Besides, it is not like she was reaping any benefits. I told you the only reason I accepted your marriage was because I saw promise in her, but it seems to be taking longer than I expected. We could have merged with another company in that time. So divorce her. I'm sure there are still plenty of business owners who would be willing to have their daughters marry you. After all, you do not even have any children to take care of. We will just pay the commoner to leave you alone after the divorce." After a while Kyoya responded.

"I cannot do that."

"It is an order not a question."

"Then I'll have no choice but to disobey. I can't let Haruhi leave me. I… it's my fault somehow and I won't let her go until she tells me why."

It was Yoshio's turn to be quiet. "You are fired then."

"I'm…"

"Fired, yes. You will do this presentation and leave immediately afterwards. Come back when you are no longer being foolish."

Kyoya walked towards the doors and stopped before opening them. "I am sorry for refusing to follow orders this time, but I know I will never regret it." Then he stepped out and Yoshio smiled.

Kyoya had followed orders since the moment he was born. Only once did Kyoya rebel - and it was only to show that he could- then he went back to his complacent ways.

It was nice to know that his son had a little bit of guts after all…


"Alright, I'm here." Kyoya pulled up the chair besides Haruhi and sat down. "Was it necessary to call me so many times Tamaki? I was at a very important meeting."

"Of course! You simply couldn't miss this meeting!"

Kyoya looked at each host suspiciously, noticing their enthusiastic and eager expressions. "What are you all planning?"

The twins feigned hurt. "Whatever do you mean senpai?"

Honey looked at Mori. "Kyo-chan still doesn't trust us Takashi."

"Seems so."

Tamaki sniffled. "All I wanted was to see my best friend…'

Haruhi was looking at the menu when Kyoya faced her. "Do you know what this is about?"

Haruhi shrugged.

Kyoya gave the hosts one last look before asking for a menu.

Haruhi stared at hers for a while longer before deciding to voice her thoughts. "Should I get the chocolate cake or the vanilla? Or maybe the icecream or cheesecake? Hmm…"

"Isn't strawberry your favorite? Just order that one." Hikaru said.

For the first time in her life Haruhi wrinkled her nose at the thought of food. Strawberry? The smell would be so disgustingly sour. Worst of all the sour would mix with the sweet. Just the thought of it made her want to puke. "No thank you."

The hosts all gasped. Except Mori, who rarely gasped and Kyoya who was looking at his menu, uninterested.

"What?"

"Since when do you hate strawberry cake?!"

"More importantly, why would you hate any type of cake?!"

"I'm sorry if I don't feel like puking today guys...Would it be too much if just ordered one of each?"

Another round of gasps.

Tamaki rushed to her side and touched her forehead. Haruhi swatted it away. "You're not heating up."

"Isn't this just a side effect of-" Honey was cut off by Tamaki's alarmed question. "Are you sure you're okay Haruhi?" He held her shoulders, searching her face intently.

"Hey Kyoya senpai, don't you mind that the boss is harassing your wife?"

"Forget that, doesn't he mind that Haruhi is going crazy?"

Kyoya glanced up for half a second before redirecting his gaze at the menu. "Tamaki leave her alone. Haruhi, you're gaining weight I wouldn't order one of each if I was you."

The hosts shut up at the last remark.

Kyoya stood up. "If you'll excuse me, I need to use the restroom."

Haruhi had frozen.

The hosts waited anxiously for her reaction.

Finally she reached into Kyoya's coat pocket (he had left his coat over the chair), removed a small piece of gold-colored plastic, stood and walked over to the counter. The hosts watched as she talked to the cashier for a couple of minutes, handed over the piece of plastic, waited and then walked back.

"Good news guys! Lunch is on Kyoya!"

"Haruhi, what exactly did you order?"

"Oh, not much."

Kyoya emerged from the restroom a while later to applause. Why was everybody smiling at him and clapping? People passed by and thanked him to which he uncertainly nodded at. What the…

He returned to the table.

"You were right Kyoya. I am gaining a little weight. That's why instead of treating just myself, I treated everybody...in the cafe."

"Did you tell everybody that I was the one responsible…"

"Yup! I told the guy at the counter to announce it."

So that's why they were thanking him.

"I mean it was only fair since I used your credit card."


Thanks for reading!