Before getting dressed for the day, Kyoya texted the Host Club, excluding Haruhi.
***We need to meet this morning. Be in the club room in one hour. We need to discuss Haruhi.***
"After her meeting with the Chairman, we need to decide when and how to approach Haruhi about her behavior," he told himself as he finished his morning routine and prepared to leave for the meeting.
Tamaki was waiting in front of the school when Kyoya's car pulled up. "What do we need to discuss about Haruhi? Have you found out what has been going on with her?" he demanded even before Kyoya had fully exited the car.
Kyoya pushed up his glasses and responded, "We will discuss this once we are all together. There's no use in having the same conversation four or five times."
Sulking, Tamaki followed Kyoya to the club room where the other four members were waiting for them. "Thank you all for coming so early," Kyoya remarked.
"Do you have information about Haruhi?" Hikaru piped up.
Long-sufferingly, Kyoya replied, "That is the purpose of this meeting, to determine what information we do have and then decide when and how we should approach Haruhi for further answers."
Honey looked sheepish. "I may have some information about why she's been acting different lately. She confided in me the other day."
"What did she say?!" Tamaki demanded. "And what were you doing with my precious daughter?"
A glare from Kyoya quelled Tamaki's outburst. "Please allow him the opportunity to provide us with the information that he has."
"Oh, okay," Tamaki mumbled sulkily.
"Well, the other day I went to talk to Haruhi rather than watch Takashi's kendo practice. We were all wondering about her change in behavior and I just had to ask her." Honey chuckled. "She said I caught her at just the right time. She said she had realized some things during the Ouran Fair and she wanted someone to talk to about it."
"But why not us?" Hikaru demanded. "We've been there in class with her all the time, but she keeps trying to hide things and avoid us."
"I think it was just my timing," Honey allowed, shrugging.
"Harrumph," Hikaru grunted as he crossed his arms and looked stubborn.
"Please allow him to continue," Kyoya interrupted.
"Thank you, Kyo-chan," Honey said. "So, the first thing she told me she discovered during the Ouran Fair were that we are her heart family, not born into the same family but mutually chosen, just like Tamaki has been saying all along. It was after Kyoya told her Éclair had paid off the debt. She realized that she was no longer shackled to us by the debt but she wanted to be with us anyway. She actually likes us and wants to spend more time with us.
"Next she said she realized that she needs to learn to ask for help and allow us to help her, so she can show us that she trusts us. Helping one another is the tangible evidence that we are part of each other's lives—that we're connected.
"Finally, she revealed that members of our family were hurting deeper than they realized or were willing to admit. She expressed a righteous fury about the way certain members of our family were treated during the Ouran Fair." Honey's voice was soft and contemplative by the time he finished speaking, his glance flitting from Kyoya to Tamaki and back again.
"Well, that explains a lot about her change in behavior," Kaoru stated. "It's great to know she actually likes us and wants to spend time with us."
"Yeah, better than thinking she was using us to avoid a bully or stalker," Tamaki put in.
Kyoya nodded. "That explains her change in behavior towards us. There is one thing that still needs to be explained—the law books. They are all on family law and adoption. I have texted Ryoji but he claims things are fine between them and he is in good health." To himself, he thought, "And then there's the matter of the internship. Why does she need the job?"
Honey shrugged and said, "Maybe it's time to just ask Haruhi about the law books?"
Hikaru interjected, "How about we ask her about it next week if she hasn't told us herself before then?"
"That would be a good idea," Kaoru added.
Glancing around at the hopefully expressions, Kyoya said, "Very well, if she has not told us by next Tuesday, I will ask her about the law books." Internally he added, "And the internship."
Mori tapped Honey on the shoulder and pointed to his watch. Honey smiled and nodded. "It's almost time to head to class but Takashi and I want to make an announcement after Host Club hours this afternoon. I'd make it now, but I want Haruhi to hear it, too."
"Please remind us when we gather this afternoon. You can make your announcement before we start homework," Tamaki said. "Now, off we go."
Yuzuru looked up from the reports on his desk when the office door opened. He was startled to see his mother enter. "Good evening, Shizue. To what do I owe this honor?" he asked.
"We need to talk about a few things," she responded.
He stood up and moved to the sofa in the sitting area of his office. He gestured to the armchair that was her favorite seat. She seated herself gracefully.
Yuzuru waited patiently for Shizue to address the topics in her own way and time. "I was extremely disappointed in Tonnere. She was supposed to be here to evaluate whether she would be a suitable match for Tamaki. Her attempt to take over the Otori business was in poor taste."
"Why did you choose her as a potential match? Wouldn't a Japanese girl from a good family be a better choice?" Yuzuru asked.
"It was about political ties and branching out globally. I will be having words with my researcher who declared her the best option," Shizue allowed. "On another subject, Yoshio's third son, Kyoya, was quite surprising. Not only did he realize what Tonnere was about, but he also bought the company before she could take advantage of the opportunity. That boy definitely has excellent business sense. Hopefully, Tamaki will learn some of his acumen. As much as I dislike their Host Club, it has been an interesting business venture."
Yuzuru considered for a minute and then he asked, "What do you think of Haruhi?"
"The honor student girl who dresses as a boy?" Shizue asked for clarification.
"Yes, that's the one. Wouldn't she be a good match for Tamaki? She wants to be a lawyer like her mother. She's even secured an internship with the firm where her mother used to work. The lawyer that interviewed her for the position was very impressed with her potential."
"Hmm. I remember how she stood up to Yoshio. Yes, she might be just the right match for Tamaki."
"When I have dinner with Tamaki tonight, I will suggest that he pursue her. They are both still young, but arrangements can be made for the future." Yuzuru smiled at the thought of Haruhi as his daughter-in-law.
Shizue thought it over and responded, "Yes. That is an acceptable idea. I wouldn't be surprised if Yoshio has designs on the girl for his son, so Tamaki should press his suit as soon as possible."
Standing up, she continued, "I have another meeting soon, so I will take my leave."
"It's been good talking to you, mother," Yuzuru said as he accompanied her to the door.
As the last guest left the Third Music Room, Tamaki called for everyone's attention. "Before we begin our homework, Honey-sempai has an announcement he wants to make."
Honey smiled brightly as he said, "Graduation is fast approaching for Takashi and me. We decided that we wanted to spend some leisure time together with our friends before things change after graduation. We hope everyone will be available this weekend and next weekend. This weekend would be spent at the Morinozuka compound and the next weekend at the Haninozuka estate."
"That sounds like a great idea," Tamaki enthused. "Can everyone make it? How about you, Haruhi?"
"Actually, that will work out great. Dad will be in Kariuzawa both of those weekends helping Misuzu. He was worried about leaving me home alone," she replied happily.
"Yea!" Honey shouted. "We will have so much fun together." Mori's mouth quirked in a small smile and the corners of his eyes crinkled, displaying his happiness.
"The first obligatory family dinner since the Ouran Fair," Kyoya contemplated, assessing his reflection and then adjusting his tie. "I wonder what humor Father will be in? Hopefully some of his displeasure over my purchase of the company will have abated by now. Far be it from me to expect him to be grateful that I kept it out of the hands of that conniving Tonnere." Checking his watch, he found that he had just enough time to make it to the dining room without being late.
Pausing before opening the dining room door, Kyoya fixed his stoic mask firmly in place. "Hopefully, this won't drag on for more than an hour. I have homework to finish before I check the markets and finish my investment research."
Fuyumi greeted Kyoya at the door, as soon as he entered the dining room. "Kyoya, it's so good to see you. How have things been going at school? And the Host Club?" she asked boisterously.
He suppressed his flinch as she said 'Host Club' and was thankful their father was not in the room, given how much a sore spot that was. "All is going well," he responded. "I wish I could tell her-really tell her-about the Host Club, but this is not the time or place."
"We should get together for lunch sometime soon to talk," Fuyumi pouted. "These family dinners are not the place to catch up."
"I will check my calendar and let you know when I am available," Kyoya replied. "I do need her to act as my agent again on those two property deals I'm about to close," he thought. "Where are the children?" he asked.
Fuyumi waved toward the door to the kitchen and said, "Seiji is settling Masaya and Hibiki at the table in the kitchen reserved for them."
Kyoya paused. It never signaled good things when Father had a separate table arranged for the children. It normally meant he was on the warpath and cared only enough to take the children out of what would be a hostile environment. And probably only because children couldn't be trusted not to speak of family matters at inopportune times.
"Wonderful," Kyoya thought sarcastically. "That means at least two hours, maybe even three, before I get out of here."
Glancing around the dining room, Kyoya noticed that his brothers had already helped themselves to glasses of wine and were looking rather morose at the prospect of a long family dinner.
Yuuichi scowled at Kyoya as he entered but didn't say a word. "I can't believe that little brat upstaged me like that. Buying the company and then giving it back to Father."
Akito pointedly ignored Kyoya and headed to the sideboard to refill his wine glass. "Never has remembered his proper place as the third son," Akito grumbled internally, and glowering in Kyoya's direction.
As the clock chimed the hour, the door of the dining room opened and Yoshio entered, escorting his wife. Yuuichi and Akito moved to the seats on either side of Yoshio's seat at the head of the table. Fuyumi and Seiji stepped up beside the chairs on Yuuichi's side of the table. That left Kyoya with the seat on Akito's side of the table, next to his mother at the foot of the table.
After walking his wife to stand behind her seat at the foot of the table, Yoshio walked to the head of the table. "Akito, I would like Kyoya to sit next to me this evening."
Akito, his face effused with red, stepped away from his chair and moved to the chair near his mother, glaring at Kyoya the whole time. Kyoya, suddenly feeling pale, reluctantly moved toward the chair next to his father. "This does not bode well, on many fronts," Kyoya thought. "Why do I get the distinct impression that he wants me within striking distance?"
Yoshio sat and then motioned for the others to take their seats. Not a word was spoken as Yoshio gestured toward the kitchen, the waiting servants seeing the cue and bringing in the soup course. The butler quietly poured wine in everyone's glass except Kyoya's. His glass was filled with water and he gave an almost imperceptible nod of thanks. "At least some things are normal tonight and I'll have a clear head for homework and research later," he silently sighed.
Yuuichi opened his mouth to ask about the change of seating and caught a warning glare from Yoshio. After that, no one dared make a sound. Dinner was a tense, silent affair that everyone was wishing would end soon as each course was served, and then removed in turn.
Finally, the final course was cleared away. Yoshio stood and declared, "You are all dismissed. Kyoya, I will see you in my office NOW." After his declaration, he exited the dining room.
"This cannot be good," Kyoya thought, watching his father's retreating back.
Yuuichi and Akito stood up simultaneously and headed for the wine on the sideboard, both of their expressions maudlin.
Fuyumi and Seiji bade her mother 'good night' and headed for the kitchen to collect their Masaya and Hibiki. Fuyumi looked in Kyoya's direction and nodded, as if to say, "Call me if you need anything and let me know when we can have lunch."
Kyoya's mother remained in her seat at the table, staring at her hands in her lap. Her distress was obvious, but so was the aura of 'I need some time to myself.'
Kyoya rose and walked slowly down the table to his mother's side. "Good night, mother," he whispered, bowing slightly, both to not be overheard and to show respect.
She looked up and gave him an anxious smile. "Don't keep your father waiting," she whispered back.
Kyoya knocked firmly on the door of his father's office. He clamped tight control on his emotions and expressions, anticipating that the meeting with his father would not be a pleasant experience. "At least dinner didn't last for hours, like I was dreading," he chuckled mirthlessly to himself.
"Come in." The order in Yoshio's voice was clear. Kyoya opened the door just enough to step in and closed it quietly behind himself. Walking to stand in front of his father's desk, he bowed and said, "You wished to see me?"
Yoshio scowled at Kyoya from his large executive chair behind his massive desk, projecting the air of a feudal lord dealing with a lowly serf. "I have been examining your accounts. Care to explain why your balances are so low? You know what is expected of you."
Kyoya replied, "I realize that my balances appear to be low, but I have substantial amounts in escrow for several business investments I am current negotiating. Following the purchase of the company, my investment capital is well below the expected minimum balance. I have calculated that it will take six weeks to return the balances to minimum, based on the expected returns from the investments being negotiated, and that is a conservative estimate."
The bland look on Yoshio's face didn't change through Kyoya's recital. "Care to explain this document that accompanied the ownership paperwork for the company?" He held up a single sheet that appeared to be an invoice.
"Here's where things could get dicey," Kyoya thought. "Last year you provided me with an accounting of how much the Otori family had spent on raising me. I updated the accounting for the time since it was calculated and projected forward to my graduation from high school. I used that amount as a guideline for the amount I was willing to pay for the company.
"The invoice simply shows that the negotiated price for the company was slightly greater than the amount I anticipate the Otori family will expend on me by the time I graduate from high school. Simply stated, I have repaid the funds expended, or to be expended, on me by purchasing the company and returning it."
As Kyoya spoke, Yoshio's face grew darker and darker. Finally, he exploded, "You DARE to speak to me in this manner." Swiftly, Yoshio stood from his chair and moved around the desk. Kyoya didn't even anticipate the slap, much less the backhand that followed it.
Yoshi towered over Kyoya, who had fallen to his knees under the onslaught. "Yuuichi and Akito were right. You have forgotten your place. You are the third son. Your place is to do as you are told to advance the family. You have far too high an opinion of yourself."
Grabbing Kyoya's collar, Yoshio pulled him to his feet and struck him again, knocking off his glasses. "Get out of my sight. I don't want to see you again until you have returned your balances to the expected minimums and you have learned your place." Yoshio pushed him toward the door and Kyoya, losing his balance, fell hard.
Picking up his glasses and wiping the blood from the corner of his mouth, he slid his stoic mask firmly back into place. "As you wish, Father." With that, he left the office and closed the door quietly behind himself.
Yuzuru smiled at Tamaki across the table. "I've really enjoyed having dinner with you this evening."
"It's been great," Tamaki replied. "I wish we could do it more often, but I know how busy you are."
The silence that settled between them was not forced or awkward. It was a comfortable contemplation following lively dinner conversation.
"Oh, by the way," Yuzuru started, gesturing wildly. "Your grandmother came to see me today. She wanted me to tell you that you acted appropriately towards Mlle. Tonnere. Her behavior was very disappointing, using your grandmother's invitation as a means to try to buy the Otori company."
"The Host Club deserves most of the credit. They realized there were problems, on more than one front, and intervened," Tamaki replied.
Out of nowhere, Yuzuru asked, "What do you think of Haruhi?"
Tamaki blushed lightly, "She is very intelligent and caring. She can be fierce in protecting her family and friends. Why do you ask?"
Yuzuru cleared his throat and looked a little embarrassed. "Your grandmother suggested that she would be an acceptable marriage match for you."
"Dad!" Tamaki whined. "She has plans to become a lawyer like her mother. Marriage is not on her mind right now."
"Be that as it may, arrangements could be made now for consummation later. Just think about it."
"Okay, I will."
Looking at his watch, Yuzuru said, "Let's get you home. It's getting late and you have school tomorrow."
"Thanks for dinner, Dad. Let's do it again sometime soon."
Kyoya locked his bedroom door. "Not that it will stop Father if he decides he wants to get in, but at least it will give me warning. Just over a year until I graduate from high school and then I can get out of here."
Turning on the bathroom light, he opened the bottom drawer of the vanity and pulled out a first aid kit. Kyoya looked in the mirror to assess the damage from his 'meeting' with his father. His nose had stopped bleeding, but the cut lip and bruises on his cheeks would take more time. Pulling out a cold pack and activating the chemicals, he thought, "Well, I'll need to pull out the makeup kit in the morning. Even a cold pack will not clear all the bruises by then."
He cleaned up and headed to his desk to complete his homework. "At least my homework is almost done. By the time I finish, it will be time to check the markets. I'll have to finish my market research tomorrow. There's no way I can concentrate on research tonight."
After completing his tasks, Kyoya changed for bed quickly and efficiently. He activated a new cold pack-the chemical reaction for the first one had run it's course. Placing the new cold pack on the cheek feeling the most tender, he lay on his bed staring at the ceiling. "I don't know if I can take this for another year. At least I've been able to surreptitiously move the majority of my funds to accounts Father doesn't know about and can't access. I had hoped the purchase of the company would mask the 'disappearance' of the other funds. At least he seemed to buy the escrow excuse."
Kyoya's thoughts took a dark turn as he contemplated the next year and his father's 'displeasure.' Rolling over onto his side and adjusting the position of the cold pack, he tried to find something more pleasant to think about.
His overwhelming maelstrom of emotions reminded Kyoya of THAT night at the Nekozawa beach house. Thoughts of Haruhi and the feelings she provoked invaded and he gradually relaxed. "She is perceptive, honest, and gentle, but fierce in defense of others. Her ability to see through my mask and accept me for who I am is amazing. And the way she stood up to my father—stunning."
Kyoya drifted off to sleep to dreams of a fierce brunette sprite with doe-brown eyes, gently stroking his forehead and running her fingers softly through his hair.
"What happened to you!?" Hikaru demanded when he saw Kyoya walk into school the next morning. Kaoru spun around at his brother's outburst and examined Kyoya's face. Haruhi stepped closer and then pushed Kyoya gently down into a chair so she could get a closer look.
"My father was displeased with me," Kyoya replied simply. "I had hoped that I had learned enough about makeup from the cosplays to cover the bruises adequately."
Haruhi's expression clouded over in anger. "I can't believe he did that." She gently ran her fingers over Kyoya's cheek. Unconsciously, he leaded into her touch, savoring the coolness of her fingers.
"You did a pretty good job, but you need a little of the green concealer under the foundation to counteract the purple." Kaoru pulled out his kit and put action to words.
"We'll have to talk about this before Host Club…" Hikaru started to say.
"No, I can handle it. Thank you for the makeup tip. Now, let's get to class." Kyoya stood up and headed toward his first class.
Haruhi's eyes followed him and the corners of her mouth tightened. "It's time," she thought.