Happy St. Valentine's Day, dear readers! I'm going to post three chapters today, so don't expect a post on Sunday. :) As always, I crave your reviews. It's about to turn all seven levels of crazy up in here!

J~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

It had been a month since I officially met the boys and Haruhi. She and I were supposed to do some shopping today. It wasn't the first time. We ran into each other the morning after our initial meeting, and she asked if I'd had time to settle into my apartment yet and get my groceries purchased. When I explained that I'd been living off convenience store supplies, she set up a time to help me purchase necessities. It was really quite humorous. No sooner had we finished shopping, than Tamaki had called and bombarded us. I don't mind Tamaki, but did he really have to drag five other men into my tiny apartment? Absurd. We had just gone to the market, and I ended up having to turn right back around and get more food after cooking everything I had to fill their stomaches. Hospitality is the pits.

Flashback:

"Tamaki, Judy didn't invite you to lunch, nor can I imagine she planned to host the entire club today." Haruhi's voice was patient, liked she had dealt with this for years. I imagine she has been dealing with Tamaki's whims for a while, judging by the size of the rock on her finger.

"But, Haruhi, I missed you." He then proceeded to tackle her.

"Come on, Boss…"

"Just because the two of you are getting married…"

"Doesn't mean she shouldn't get hugs…

"From the rest of us."

The ping-pong quality of the declaration and its obviously jibing tone, made me relax a bit, even though two more men were pulling on my new friend. Surely, something else she's used to? The two men were clearly twins, identical, in fact. Though, one had darker hair than the other. Thank goodness. Who knows what kind of pranks they could pull on me if they were completely the same? I have a terrible time telling twins apart, identical or not. It will take a while before I'm even close to knowing them.

"Haru-chan! Introduce us!" A sweet sing-song voice lilted above the din. It was a man's voice, but it was the highest tenor I'd ever heard spoken. Bet he'd make a great counter tenor. I turned my attention to the voice and was met with what can only be termed a matching physique. He was about 5'9", blonde (Strange in Japan.), diminutive in frame, and baby faced. All in all, he was angelic.

"Tamaki, Hikaru, Koaru! Let go!" Haruhi continued to struggle until a giant swooped her up and set her on her feet beside me. "Thank you, Mori-sempai," she said as she straightened her clothes out. "Judy, I'm very sorry they invaded without permission, but I'll introduce the idiots anyway. The cute one is Mitsukuni Haninozuka. The tall, silent one is Takashi Morinozuka." She gestured toward her savior. "The devil twins are Hikaru and Kaoru Hitachin." Cheshire grins accompanied by mirrored winks filled my vision. "You already know Tamaki and Kyoya." The last in the line up stepped from a shadowed corner in my living room. How is it possible to find the only shadowy spot and inhabit it so quickly? I didn't even know he was here.

K~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

About a week after our 'big' debut, I received a call from Tamaki.

"Kyoya! It's Tamaki."

To this day, his overtly cheerful presence on the phone line annoys me somewhat. "Yes, Tamaki, I know. It's called caller I.D."

"Oh, right. Anyway, Haruhi texted and said we're having lunch at Judy's house. Meet me there in half and hour." The line cut off, and I knew he jumped some serious reasoning gaps in order to make it to "Judy invited us over."

Oh, well. If nothing else, I can find out more on the target. Maybe something that will come in handy with the project. Oh, yes. I had a project already. Every person has a level of value to me. Every person is useful to some degree. The problem is finding where they are most useful in the grand scheme. Judy Mooreson may not be in the medical field, she may not be business minded, but her talent will help fill in any gaps at functions. I'll give it another week before I do anything.

I looked at the papers scattered across my desk: business proposals, building plans, stock reports…and party schedules. I had long known that most business proceedings don't take place in an office. Mergers and the like are more likely to be born at a large social gathering where potential business partners have had too much to drink or are being dazzled by the wealth and status of what your family can provide. Oh, I know about parties. My family was preparing a large gathering for the next month and were requiring me to be the host. Not that I begrudge them that. In fact, it makes sense; and I'm more than willing to oblige. I was named heir last season, after all. My brothers would have jumped at an opportunity to host that particular party, surely. Dignitaries from all over Japan, East Asia, and America would be present. Some wanted to buy into the Ohtori empire; some wanted to have us buy into theirs; some wanted money for political campaigns; and others just wanted to rub elbows. I was good at the game, and it was a game. Yes, everyone has their value and usefulness.

I swept the party schedules aside and caught a glimpse of paper that definitely was not of the regular fodder of my desk. I pulled the exposed corner from underneath my desk calendar and perused it. "La Captive" by Hector Berlioz was a favorite song of my mother's. She used to hum it while she saw to invitations and social functions each morning. Strange that this particular music would be on my desk.

Mother put all of her children into music lessons. Yuuichi was made to learn the violin, Akito the viola, and Fuyumi the piano. We all did well, but only I chose to excel because only I had a reason to succeed. Even now, everything I do must be better. Mother had a beautiful voice, but she never sang outside of her rooms. Sometimes, I would catch the waft of her voice down the hallway; but as soon as her bedroom door opened, the song was over. I understood why, now. Father thought it useless. Indeed, the man thinks many things useless.

I shook myself from my reverie: I didn't have time for that sort of thing. Though, I did place the "La Captive" sheet music on my stand in the music room. I then made my way to Judy's apartment.

As soon as Judy opened the apartment door to Tamaki's persistent knocking, I slipped inside and found somewhere unobtrusive to observe and to do some extra work. I heard Haruhi scolding Tamaki for bringing the entire club over and ignored the usual preamble. Seriously, it never changes. Judy's reaction's were priceless. She wasn't overt, by any stretch; but she still had a hard time keeping the flash of surprise from lighting her eyes each time the twins yanked, Tamaki pulled, Hani bounced, or Mori lifted Haruhi.

I ignored the introductions. Boring.

"You already know Tamaki and Kyoya," Haruhi was saying. My cue. I'd much rather not move. The shadowy corner I had made my temporary home, the only shadowed area, divulged me; and I saw Judy's face take on a different cast when she saw me. Is that enlivened interest? Good.

Hani swiftly began steering the conversation in his old way. Now that we were no longer a club, "cute", "food", and "cake" seem banal topics to me. But, Judy agreed to make lunch for all seven of us.

"Um. Okay, Hani, Mori. And, if you would like lunch, then I'll make it. Luckily, Haruhi and I just finished shopping." Judy had already begun gathering her tools.

J~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

"Judy-chan, your apartment is really cute." Strangely, Hani's vocal quality lowered after introduction. Why would he do that? Nervousness? Not likely. I wasn't given long to ponder vocal timbre, for he continued with, "Are you going to make us lunch? Oh, and you can call me Hani. Call Takashi Mori. It makes things so much simpler." I heard a slight grunt, but I wasn't sure whether it was one of approval or disapproval.

"Um. Okay, Hani, Mori. And, if you would like lunch, then I will make it. Luckily, Haruhi and just finished shopping." I started pulling out appropriate fixings while Haruhi put away anything I wasn't about to use.

"Like they would have come over before you purchased groceries," Kyoya snickered in the background. I chuckled at that. He was spot on, as usual. I could tell this group loved eating home-cooked food. Let's hope I can deliver.

I decided not to stray from American cuisine, and chose to make baked chicken seasoned with lemon, basil, thyme, and a dash of creole seasoning. I kept the sides simple, straight spinach and biscuits. I am so glad I splurged on the needless Pillsbury. Forty minutes later, and ding!

"Boys, dinner!" I called them to my small dining table. "Sorry, guys. Some of you may have to eat at the coffee table. Good news is, my apartment is small enough that it won't hinder conversation." Kyoya, Tamaki, Haruhi, and I sat at the main table while the others took the coffee table.

"Judy, I need this recipe," Haruhi's face was earnest as she chewed away.

"Oh, it's easy; chicken, whatever spices you have around that smell nice together, and voila!"

"It really is good, Judy-chan. Did you study?" I looked at Hani across the room and rolled my eyes a fraction.

"Now you're just trying to flatter me." I chuckled a bit. "I learned from my mom. It's a simple recipe really, one used for a typical American meal. She used to make it all the time."

Suddenly, two streaks flew across the room and framed my face.

"So, do you want to be…"

"Our little mother, and make our meals…"

"…forever?"

"What the heck?" I pulled my chin out of their hands and batted them out of my proximity.

"I don't think you're her type, you two devils," Tamaki cheered. He looked so pleased.

K~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

"Like they would have come over before you purchased groceries." I rarely guarded my cynicism around the club anymore, but around anyone I'd just met I tried to keep a close guard on everything I said. However, that comment slipped before I could filter it. I looked around the kitchen; and, as expected, none of my friends thought anything of my snide remark. I glanced at Judy and saw her trying to stifle a chuckle and not succeeding. A dark sense of humor. Interesting.

It wasn't long before the scent of baked chicken was floating through the small apartment. I hadn't eaten breakfast, so I had to fight the urge to run to the table when Judy called us to dinner. I chewed slowly, the measured bites of an aristocrat. The rest of club seemed to have lost any such manners. Honestly, the food's good, but not that fabulous. When Judy said it was a typical American meal, she wasn't lying.

I kept my eyes trained on my food when I sensed two orange streaks rush to the main table. I knew what they were up to immediately. I had hoped that one day Hikaru and Kaoru would grow out of their act, but they still liked to pull it out and dust it off every once in a while. They had their backs to the table on either side of Judy and were framing her face with opposite hands.

"So, do you want to be…"

"Our little mother, and make our meals…"

"…forever?"

"What the heck?" She jerked her chin from their hands and shooed them away. After what happened last week, I couldn't blame her for shying away from physical contact, especially the twin's brand. I pushed the nagging feeling aside that was telling me I didn't like them near her.

J~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

"Okay. Correct me if I'm wrong, but I've been picking up on an interesting vibe from the seven of you." I scanned the room, looking them all in the eye in turn.

"Please, continue, Judy." Kyoya's cool voice may have made my knees want to melt; but I was sitting, and I surely wasn't going to let his royal smugness make me feel stupid.

"It seems to me that you all are performing to certain types. Ever since I met you, Tamaki, you've been playing a strangely royal card." I swear Tamaki started shrinking before my eyes, but Haruhi pinched him, stopping his downward decent. "Mori, you seem to play the silent, slightly dangerous type. Yes?" He nodded. Encouraged by this, I plodded forward. "Hani, I think you must be the cute one..?"

"How'd you guess, Judy-chan?!" Woah! How'd his eyes get so huge and adorable that fast? And, his voice just jumped that lost octave again. Weird.

"Ummm. I'd say that Hikaru and Kaoru are the hyperactively annoying ones. Yeah. That's it."

"Wrong!"

K~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

"Wrong!" The twins chimed and swung their opposing arms around her shoulders. My eye twitched. Must they continue to be so physical?

"I think that's the most accurate portrait of the two of you I've ever heard," I said, wiping my mouth to distract from my twitching eye.

"Mischievous!"

"Pranksters!"

"Little Devils!"

"Not annoying."

Now, I'm curious. She's so up front with her conclusions. "After that, Judy, I'm curious what you think I am." I set my dinner ware aside. As I leaned back in my chair, she leaned forward and propped her chin in both hands. She made quite an adorable picture.

Then, with deathly calm, "You, Kyoya, are definitely the manipulator." Well, well, well. I could see her almost question herself, but then a self-satisfied smile crept over her face as she continued to stare at me. I felt myself catch on fire in that moment. This woman was going to figure us all out, just like Haruhi had. This woman…might find her way inside our worlds.

"Geez! Does she have you pegged!" The twins were laughing uncontrollably.

Even Haruhi was in on it, "You've got to admit, senpai, she is right."

J~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

"How'd you figure it out, Judy-chan," Hani squealed adorably. Why is a grown man squealing?

"Well, you were all behaving like caricatures of people. There's more to a person than a single front. I've only seen a couple of facets of Tamaki and Kyoya's personalities, but I know that beyond their two main fronts they are deeper people. As for the rest of you, I've only known you for a couple of hours, so naturally all I'd see is the facade you'd want me to see. Hani, I don't have to explain why you are the cute type. It's painfully obvious. Mori, you lifted Haruhi into the air and stopped an idiotic squabble with a look. Twinsies, you two seriously act like you didn't get enough Ritalin when you were younger. Tamaki, the first time I met you, I swear you nearly went down on one knee to great me. And, Kyoya, you're always in the background calculating something." I rattled all this off as quickly as I could. I really didn't like being asked how I drew my conclusions as it usually put me in a tight spot.

"There's someone you left out, Judy," Mori spoke up. That is an incredibly low bass he's got.

Puzzled, I asked, "Who?"

"Haruhi, of course." Tamaki placed an arm around her shoulder.

"Haruhi doesn't have a type that she follows. She's just her."

K~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

I had no need to know how she figured out our personas. I knew her methods. Not to mention, our host club personalities are rather obvious, even if some of us have grown out of them somewhat. No, what I needed to know is how far she would be able to delve into the real us…the real me. However, that intellect will be useful in the future.

I turned back to the rest of the room.

"Haruhi doesn't have a type that she follows. She's just her," Judy was saying.

"No, she's the natural." Tamaki began nuzzling Haruhi, and I could see Judy give an amused head shake.

She then looked at me and asked, "What is he talking about?"

"While you have our types nailed down, you seem to have neglected what makes us friends." Her eyes flashed at me.

"I just assumed you were all high school cronies." Her voice climbed a few keys and took on a sweetly innocent tone.

I frowned to cover the way her batting eyelashes affected me. "Yes, but we were also part of an elite club."

"…that you seem to have continued into your adult life. I gather Haruhi was the only female member and the only one without a clear type?" I twitched. There's that self-satisfied smirk again. "Are you seriously telling me that the only thing that made you friends was a club?"

And, that's what's known as not being able to filter your thoughts. I do so enjoy watching people squirm.