Disclaimer: I have no rights over any Ouran characters.

He picked up the phone dozens of times over the weekend, determined to call Mr. Tachiki and ruin Haruhi Fujioka, but every time he ended up putting the phone right back down. He gave up entirely after he saw the recording of the argument on the internet. He really hadn't made his best showing with Ms. Fujioka.

Somehow it just didn't seem right to screw her over. After all, she hadn't actually succeeded in hurting him and she had helped him save the Ootori Group. It just wasn't right to throw her under the bus.

After some careful thought he decided that the score actually put him ahead. He'd succeeded in becoming the heir to the Ootori Group and she hadn't managed to deceive him. All she'd gotten was a successful case on her record.

When he awoke on Monday morning he was determined to put her out of his mind and focus on work. He considered working to remove the Ootori Group from Tachiki and Sons' client list, but ultimately decided that this would be a breach of trust, especially after they helped save the zaibatsu.

At about ten thirty he got a call from Tamaki, but chose to ignore it. He didn't feel like dealing with his positive, optimistic friend. Not when he was feeling so hurt and empty.

Over the course of the next few weeks he got numerous calls and texts from Tamaki, as well as the other Host Club members, but he ignored them all. He hadn't told them about Her, and he didn't plan to tell them about Princess either. He'd taken care of Her by threatening her with ruin if she ever interacted with the Host Club again. Last he'd heard she'd moved to Fukuoka and married a local businessman, which was fine with him. He'd deal with Princess in a similar manner, but first he needed some time to heal and build up his defenses.

And that meant avoiding all thoughts about her. Even if he wondered how she knew Haninozuka style. Or how she managed to look so amazing in both feminine dresses and strong business suits. Or why she nibbled on her lip when she was thinking.

He gave his head a shake and turned off his car.

Why couldn't he keep her out of his thoughts? It had been much easier to stop thinking about Her than it was about Princess.

If he could help it he wouldn't even be here at Tachiki and Sons, but he really needed to sign some paperwork and didn't have time to have them come to him. Even if it meant possibly running into her.

He wondered if she'd been rewarded for helping the Ootori Group.

Probably, she seemed good at landing on her feet. And at least she wasn't just looking for a wealthy husband, she did want to be a good lawyer, too.

He walked into the office and smiled his Host Club smile at the secretary, a Miss Watanabe.

"Hello. I'm here to pick up and sign some papers."

She smiled at him, "Ah! Mr. Ootori, it's nice to see you again. Just a moment."

She picked up her phone and paged someone. While she did that Kyoya couldn't help but look around the office, half hoping to catch sight of Princess.

He only wanted to convince himself that she was the gold-digger he knew she was, of course.

Right?

"Are you looking for someone, Mr. Ootori?"

He stopped looking around the office and focused his attention on Ms. Watanabe.

"Oh, well, I worked closely with Mr. Mamoru Tachiki and Miss Fujioka before. I was going to say hello if I saw them."

Miss Watanabe's face froze and a careful mask slipped over it.

"You won't be able to see them, I'm sorry to say."

Kyoya frowned a little, "Why is that?"

She looked around furtively and then leaned forward and began to whisper, "A few weeks ago Miss Fujioka came into Mr. Tachiki's office, there was some shouting, and then she quit and walked out. A few minutes later Mr. Mamoru Tachiki also resigned."

"Really?"

"Yes. Apparently Miss Fujioka was tired of having her talents wasted. She went and started her own firm with Mr. Mamoru Tachiki, called Fujioka and Tachiki. At first Mr. Tachiki was angry, but then he began laughing saying they'd be out of business in a week."

"And are they?"

"Oh, no. You see, many of our top clients, both Japanese and foreign are leaving us to go to Fujioka and Tachiki. Mr. Tachiki is almost apoplectic. I'm glad you're here, just seeing that Ootori Group is still loyal will calm him some."

That didn't sound good. Maybe it was time to find a new law firm.

"What companies and families left Tachiki and Sons?"

She reached over and grabbed a notebook, flipping through it until she found a certain page, she then quietly listed them off.

"Hitachiin International, Morinozuka, Haninozuka, Suoh Industries, Kasanoda, Roux, and Koenig are the big ones. A number of other, smaller families and businesses that were private clients of Mr. Mamoru also left. About thirty percent of our clients, but a good eighty percent of our most powerful."

Kyoya had to stop himself from whistling.

Just how had Haru- no, Princess, and Mamoru done that?

"Ms. Watanabe, you're probably not supposed to share this with me. I don't want you to get in trouble."

"Oh, that's alright. I'm starting work at Fujioka and Tachiki on Monday. I just need to get through the next three days. I'm tired of being treated like a second class citizen. Miss Fujioka is hiring me as her office manager."

Kyoya's left eyebrow rose a little, "A second class citizen?"

"Yes, Mr. Tachiki doesn't believe women can do as well as men in law and business. He's terribly old-fashioned. Even my grandfather is more modern."

"Well then, Miss Watanabe, I wish you the best." He flashed her his Host Club smile. "Here comes Mr. Kenichi Tachiki."

"Have a nice day, Mr. Ootori."

A few minutes later Kyoya was comfortably ensconced on the plush couch in Mr. Kenichi's office with a hot cup of tea sitting in front of him.

"It's nice to see you again Mr. Ootori. I'm sorry I wasn't available to assist you during your previous situation."

"I understand you're a very busy person. Anyways, your brother and Miss Fujioka did an amazing job assisting me. In fact, I'd say Ootori Group would now be history if it wasn't for Miss Fujioka."

Mr. Kenishi smiled sadly, "Yes, I'm sure she played a big part in saving your zaibatsu. She's a very talented young woman. I'm sorry to say though that she's no longer with us. She's chosen to try and go her own way."

"Oh, really?"

"Yes, she wasn't getting the recognition she deserved for her skills."

Kyoya felt a twinge of guilt at that. True, she'd tried to trick and deceive him, but she HAD been instrumental in saving his zaibatsu. He hadn't said anything negative about her work, but should he have said something positive? He didn't like doubting himself, it was something he did rarely, but right now he found himself doing it.

It wasn't a pleasant sensation.

"Would she have received proper recognition if a client had spoken up?"

Mr. Kenichi took a deep breath and thought for a moment. Then he shook his head.

"No, and even if it had, it would've died off quickly. I'm sorry to say it, but my father just can't imagine a woman being as good of a lawyer as a man - even if the evidence is flashing in neon letters right in front of him."

That made Kyoya feel a bit better. He still had questions though. Such as why Mamoru Tachiki had left the family business to go start a new law firm with an unknown commoner. Was he really that wrapped around Princess' finger?

"And what about your brother?"

"My brother does what he wants and tries to achieve his own goals. He worked here to make our parents happy, but now he has a different goal."

"Would it be presumptuous of me to ask what that goal is?"

Kenichi stared at him for a moment, reading him, before he replied.

And when he did, Kyoya found himself surprised by the answer.

XXX

Tamaki wasn't what most would call level-headed. In fact, to many the outsider he looked like a roller-coaster, always up or down. But, as those who really knew him knew, he was not nearly as given to extremes as he appeared to be. Rather, he had a flair for the dramatics and enjoyed being the center of attention.

Many times he took to the corner of woe because he wanted everyone to know he was upset, even if he knew he could easily push past that upset if he had too.

The past few weeks had been different though.

At first he hadn't believed Haruhi. After all, Kyoya was his best and his oldest friend, not counting Alianore, while he'd only known Haruhi for a few years.

But then there had been the video. Whoever had taken it must've had a very good cellphone because the audio was crystal clear, as was the video.

The Kyoya in the video was not the same as the Kyoya he remembered. True, they hadn't spent much time together since Kyoya left for America, but no one changed that much, did they?

These thoughts had gotten him wondering, for the first time, why Kyoya had left so abruptly for America. He knew there had been some sort of falling out between Kyoya and Nana, but he'd always assumed it was just a peaceful separation.

Now he wondered.

And when Tamaki wondered, he discovered.

And that explained what he was doing in Fukuoka, tracking down Nana Ito, a woman who'd disappeared from their lives at the same time Kyoya had.

Tamaki wanted answers.

And he was going to get them.

XXX

Kyoya turned off the water and stepped out of the shower; grabbing a towel he patted himself dry before tossing it in the hamper.

Then he headed into his bedroom, where he'd accidently left his house clothes laying on the bed.

"You've put on some muscle."

Kyoya jumped and looked at the origin of the voice. He didn't have his glasses on, so he couldn't really see more than a blurry shape, but the voice was unmistakable.

"What else has changed about you?"

Kyoya ground his teeth and stomped over to his bed, quickly throwing on his clothes.

"Oh, don't cover up for my sake. It isn't like we haven't seen each other naked many times. There was even that time we all went to the hot spring. Do you remember that? Poor Nana was all by herself since we didn't invite any of the other ladies."

Kyoya grabbed his glasses and jammed them on his nose.

"Tamaki, what the HELL are you doing in my bedroom?"

Tamaki quirked an eyebrow at him and barred his teeth in a semblance of a grin.

"I'm getting answers to questions I should've asked long ago."

"Questions?"

"Yes, questions. Like, what happened to make you and Nana break up? Why did she disappear so completely from our lives? Why did you run away and refuse to come back?"

"She and I had a difference of opinions. That happens. People grow up and change."

Tamaki shook his head sadly, "Kyoya, I'm your best friend. Why are you lying to me?"

Kyoya crossed his arms and stared at his oldest friends, "I'm not lying."

Tamaki snorted, "Okay, maybe you're not lying, but you're leaving out a lot of the truth. Such as what, exactly, that difference of opinion was."

"It wasn't important."

"Kyoya, you're still lying."

"How do you know that?"

"Because I just came back from Fukuoka, after having a very informative lunch with Nana. Oh, she wanted me to tell you she was sorry. She did honestly have feelings for you, they just weren't as important as her goals."

Pain hit Kyoya's chest. She had really cared for him? Then how could she have said such cold, uncaring things to her friend?

"Kyoya, why didn't you tell me about what happened? I'm your best friend. Best friends are there for each other, through thick and thin. You were there for me after Alianore threw that drink at me, even though you wanted to pursue that girl you stayed with me. Because we're friends," Tamaki looked at him, tears shimmering in his eyes, "aren't we?"

Kyoya stared into those hurt eyes for as long as he could, but they broke him.

He sat on the edge of the bed and put his head in his hands.

"We are."

"Then why didn't you tell me?"

And, for the first time in his life Kyoya uttered the phrase, "I don't know."

There was silence in the room. The quiet began to stretch to the point that it was painful, but Kyoya ignored it, refusing to look up, half wondering if he'd just lost his best friend.

Still, he wasn't surprised when the bed dipped next to him and Tamaki's arm went around his shoulder.

"I understand. It hurts to have your heart broken. We lose a part of ourselves when that happens. I was lucky enough to get Alianore back, because our broken hearts were due to misunderstandings and outside interference. But for you, it was different."

"Yes."

"There's something I've learned about broken hearts though. And that's that they need to be repaired. Sometimes that only takes time, but other times it takes more. Take mine for example. It took me breaking down entirely and sharing my deepest feelings with a stranger to get the opportunity to explain everything to Alianore."

"Tamaki. I'm not going to get back with Nana. What we had wasn't as real as I thought it was. Even if I know now that she had genuine feelings for me, she's happily married. That ship has sailed."

Tamaki shook his head, "I wasn't talking about Nana. I was talking about Haruhi Fujioka."

Kyoya pulled back in surprise and looked at his friend. "How do you know Haruhi? You said you just met Princess!"

Now it was Tamaki's turn to look surprised, "What do you mean how do I know Haruhi? Didn't you read all those emails I sent you over the past few years?"

"I read some of them, but they got rather repetitive."

Tamaki rolled his eyes, "Kyoya! Then you don't know anything! No wonder you misjudged her! That, combined with your past heartbreak, explains everything!"

"Actually, it doesn't, because I'm very confused."

"Oh! Kyoya! Just wait! We'll explain everything!"

Kyoya felt very uneasy.

"We?"

"Yes! Just wait right here!"

Kyoya proceeded to watch in mild confusion as Tamaki bounded happily around the room, typing messages into his phone the entire time.

He had a feeling that he'd made a very big mistake.

He just couldn't quite place where he'd made that crucial mistake.

Author's Note: I'm currently working very hard at the cabin my grandparents bought in the mountains of North Carolina. Painting cabinets, organizing a tool shed, fixing broken toilets, etc. That's the only explanation I have for getting this chapter up on Sunday afternoon rather than Saturday morning. Hope the wait was worthwhile.

Enjoy! :)