A/N: The polls are closed and it seems fitting that I should announce the results on one of my Kyoya stories. The top three were Kyoya with 43 votes, Mori with 30 votes, and Hunny with 7 votes. As such, Kyoya will get a Christmas story and Mori will get the New Year's story. Thank you to everyone that voted! As for this story… Oh those devil twins. How we love their pranks, but alas they are backfiring big time. Will they continue? Enjoy the new chapter! Only one more prank after this. How will it end?

Chapter 8 – Paint by Bucket

The twins were on notice… and they were only a few months into the new school term. Not only did they constantly get busted for their pranks (which was why they were currently on notice and being punished), but their pranks were working as match making schemes for the natural and cool hosts. How was that even remotely possible? There was zero, ZERO, romance included in their schemes. And as they dressed in Cinderella rags (or what was the equivalent in the eyes of Hikaru and Kaoru) while they scrubbed music room three on their hands and knees on separate sides of the room under the watchful eye of the Shadow King the day after the bus incident, they could only grumble and complain under their breaths because anything louder might turn into something even more painful. Scrubbing the room was deplorable, and having to come in on a Sunday was torture.

"Kyoya-senpai, why are we doing this? We have maids that can…" Hikaru clamped his mouth shut with an audible crack when he received a glare from the bespectacled man, and the elder twin could have sworn he saw lightening shooting straight through the lenses of the glasses.

"Yes, you do, but I feel like the Host Club needed a good scrubbing, and since all of your maids are busy with a spa day today, I believe that only leaves you," Kyoya explained, an air of superiority in his voice.

"But why are we wearing these… rags?" Kaoru complained with a whine. If he sounded reminiscent of Tamaki, he didn't care.

Glare zeroing in on the other twin, the vice president stated, "Would you rather wear your nice clothes? I believe Haruhi stated that these clothes were durable and easy to clean. Why wouldn't you wear something like that? Or would you prefer to wear a maid uniform? I'm sure I could find two in your sizes."

Hikaru could feel his temperature rising as he came very close to losing his temper, and then when he saw the smirk on Kyoya's lips, he threw down his scrub brush and exploded, "I don't see why we have to do this! You already punished us for the glue when you had that stupid mobile billboard drive us around town! Don't you think that's punishment enough?"

"Apparently it isn't because if you would have learned from past punishments, you would have never done something like that to our customers," Kyoya stated calmly, but there was a chill in the air and a bite in his tone. Allowing his dark aura a miniscule amount of freedom, he chuckled when he saw both twins panic and start to back away from him. "Start scrubbing," he ordered as he turned to his computer. It only took a second and the sounds of two brushes furiously scrubbing the floor could be heard echoing through the room. His smirk growing, he said, "Be happy I didn't make you clean the floor with toothbrushes. I believe that is the proper punishment in the American military." The only answer he received was a sharp intake of breath coming from opposite sides of the room.

It took them over six hours to finish, but the room was sparkling clean and ready for the following week, and Hikaru and Kaoru were completely exhausted. Retribution would have to wait. They were so tired, they had to help each other walk to their car and then into their house. Too tired to do anything, even to think of another precious prank… maybe.

About week later another prank was activated.

As soon as classes ended for the day, all of the members of the Host Club started to make their way towards music room three. The club would be open in about forty minutes and everyone had to get into costume. Today their illustrious king had decided they needed to do a Greek Gods cosplay. Everyone would be wearing togas and this would of course make the girls swoon, which according to Kyoya would increase club profits… which (also according to the vice president) the club needed after replacing damaged clothing and recovering several bus seats (the twins may have reimbursed the club, but a few customers had not set foot in the club since that dreaded event).

Haruhi raced on ahead since the twins had been mysteriously held back by the sensei. An odd thing since she didn't remember the instructor ever calling them out during class, however, she brushed it off and rushed towards the club room because if she knew anything, it would be that her costume would take forever to put on and probably mimicked Tamaki's, and that was the last thing she wanted. Although she would never admit it aloud, she wanted to play Hera to Kyoya's Zeus instead of Tamaki's… of course without all the cheating, jealousy and craziness that went along with that particular couple… more Disney version and less the actual backstory. A pipe dream, and yet, she could still fell Kyoya's lips moving over hers, feel the heat from his body as he pulled her close, and could feel how her body responded in kind.

Stopping in her tracks about fifteen yards from the club doors, her hand clutched her chest and she leaned against one of the pillars. Haruhi loved Kyoya and wanted to be with him, but she could not say the same about him. To him, she was just some commoner who he called friend because they were in the same club together. If it hadn't been for the club and her breaking that vase… Never before had an 8 million yen debt brought someone so much happiness and utter despair. "If you do not hurry, you won't have time to put on your costume before our guests arrive," a voice spoke from just in front of her.

Snapping her head up, Haruhi's surprised eyes stared into those of one Shadow King and her heartbeat started to speed up. She looked down the hall towards the club doors and then back at him, "Sorry Kyoya-senpai, I was just… just…"

"Where are Hikaru and Kaoru? Aren't the normally with you right about now?"

"They are going to be late. The sensei needed to speak with them."

He pushed his glasses up the bridge of his nose and gave a small nod of his head, "I see. Are you alright Haruhi? Shall I escort you to the Host Club today?" In truth, he had been happy to find her alone, and although it was only a short distance, he could claim this time as his. When he had come upon her, he could see that something was bothering her, but he also knew that he would probably be the last person she would confess any worry to, and that was alright because right now she was there with him and no one else.

"I'm…I'm fine senpai. Thank you for asking. I was just trying to remember what I needed from the store today. I feel like I'm forgetting something important from my list. I could have sworn my dad told me to get something and I can't remember. I tried calling him, but he was busy at the bar." Did he believe her lie? She hoped so.

"I see. Well, if you're ready then… we really cannot be late." He didn't believe one iota of her story except the fact she was going shopping.

"Yes, let's go." After they started walking, the doors coming ever closer, she asked, "Hey Kyoya-senpai, correct me if I'm wrong, but aren't you normally already in the club room by now?"

"Normally, yes, however, I had a Student Council meeting today and it ran over."

"Oh, okay."

The silence settled between them. Haruhi could feel Kyoya's warmth and wondered why he was walking so close to her. Kyoya could periodically feel Haruhi's hand brush his and he contemplated grabbing it and holding it tightly within his own. All too soon, they arrived at the door without taking further action.

Pulling open the door, Kyoya held it open for her and noticed something drip onto her sleeve. Glancing up, he saw exactly what it was and pulled her out of harm's way and into the safety of his arms as red paint splashed onto the floor. Unfortunately, it still stained her dress and his slacks were now spotted with red, but neither of them had been drowned in the bright color.

"Mommy duck!" A high pitched scream came from somewhere in the room.

Kyoya didn't question it or second guess anything. He grabbed Haruhi and dove to the ground just as two large bags of flour started swinging towards them. The rope holding one of the (what turned out to be open) bags of flour and it spilled all over the two hosts lying on the ground, Kyoya on top of Haruhi. The vice presidents backside was almost completely white. His body was shaking with anger at two people, "Those damn twins! I'm going to make them pay for this!"

As much as she liked the feel of his body pressing against hers, Haruhi pushed him off and watched him regain his footing before helping her up. Peering into the room from a distance, her face contorted in a scowl as if she was pondering something very hard, "I don't know senpai. This seems a little basic for them."

"Surely you don't believe it wasn't them!" He scoffed with disbelief.

"I don't know. I'm just saying it doesn't seem like their normal type of prank… at least not the ones they have been pulling lately."

"Then how do you explain their sudden disappearance? They are probably watching just down the hall and will come running up to us any moment."

It was as if they had been cued. Two redheads came running down the hall, their eyes wide as they took in the scene before them. "What happened to you two?" They questioned simultaneously.

"As if you don't already know," Kyoya snapped. Releasing Haruhi, whom he had pulled into his arms once again when he had helped her up, he stalked into the club room leaving the trio in the hall.

"What did you two do now?" Chika snarled from behind the three second years.

Looking at each other, Hikaru and Kaoru shook their heads, "Nothing."

"Doesn't look like nothing from here. Kyoya-senpai is red, white, blue, and black. Haruhi-senpai is yellow and red. Care to explain?" Satoshi asked.

The twins looked into the room and found a hanging flour sack half full of white powder and another one laying on the ground in a puddle of red liquid. "No way, we didn't do this," Hikaru stated slightly bored and yet peeved at the same time.

"Yah, this looks more like a newbie or a little kid would try," Kaoru added.

"We've heard you say it wasn't you before and it turned out to be your fault," Chika retorted.

Stepping through the door, Haruhi tried to study the mess that had been made and then promptly slipped… or at least she started to, but before she could fall into the pool of red, a hand darted out and grabbed her. As she lifted her head, she found a pair of glasses staring back at her, "Kyoya-senpai… um thank you… again!" Her voice sounded nervous and rushed and she prayed he couldn't feel how fast her heart was beating. When he realized that her arms were wrapped around his shoulders, her body stiffened and she tried to pull back… even if she wanted to push forward and lay her head against his chest.

Kyoya noticed the red tinge on her cheeks and smiled slightly before setting her away from him, "You do have a way of getting into trouble lately. Please stop making it a habit." Silently he added, "It is getting harder to distance myself and I want to do nothing more than to be your hero over and over again."

Not one person present missed the rescue and small exchange. Had Haruhi really blushed? Had Kyoya really just saved the damsel in distress again?

One of the hosts decided to take matters into his own hands. Running towards the brunette, Tamaki cried out, "Daughter! Are you alright? Did you get hurt? Oh thank goodness mommy was there to rescue you!" Coming from behind, he was able to avoid the pool in front of Haruhi as he grabbed her and swung her around his in arms, "I was so worried!"

"Put me down Tamaki-senpai!" Haruhi demanded. It was like he didn't hear her and kept muttering to himself as his hold tightened. "I said put me down!" She tried to squirm out of his arms and called out, "Kyoya-senpai!" She reached out to him and noticed something flash in his eyes before walking away from her. Was that sadness? Why? Why didn't he rescue her?

"I'm sorry Haruhi, but you don't seem to be in danger," the Shadow King forced out as he walked towards his table. He needed to think… he needed to forget Haruhi… he needed to close the club for the day… and then he needed to kill the twins for rigging such a dangerous prank.

Struggling to break free, Haruhi called out the next name she could, "Mori-senpai! Save me!" She was ripped out of the arms of her captor and looked down to find the man who had played her hero many times in her first year. "Thank you Mori-senpai."

Mori smiled, set her on her feet behind him, and patted her head, "You're welcome."

"Mori-senpai? Where did you come from? You didn't have to do that! I was just…" Tamaki ranted and most people at this point tuned him out.

"Didn't you know we were coming Tama-Chan? We just got here!" Hunny announced from the brunette's side. "I think you need to leave Haru-Chan alone." Spinning around he eyed the twins, "What did you do?"

"We didn't do anything!" Hikaru and Kaoru maintained their innocence.

"When we got here the mess was already made," the younger twin explained.

Crossing his arms over his chest, Chika argued, "You could have set it up earlier."

"But we didn't!" Kaoru was adamant.

Haruhi stood there for a moment studying everything, searching for clues, and examining the evidence; and when she was finally done, she said, "I don't think they are the culprits."

Running up to her, each twin grabbed a side and rubbed their faces cheek to cheek as they shouted, "Our savior!"

"What do you mean Haruhi-senpai?" Satoshi asked rolling his eyes at the twins' antics.

"Well, first of all, this doesn't look like something they would do. Second, after they spent last weekend scrubbing this floor on their hands and knees, and complaining they got a blister doing it, I don't think they would do something that would dirty it this much. Especially since they are afraid of what Kyoya-senpai would do to them," she began her testimony.

"HEY! We are not!" The twins took offense to her wording. When they got nothing but a raised eyebrow in question, they corrected themselves, "Maybe a little."

Footsteps approached the small group. After securing a sign to the outside of the door, Kyoya motioned everyone inside and he shut the door. When everyone was inside, he said, "I will have to agree with Haruhi on this one. Not only that, but Tamaki was the only person inside the room when we arrived. If the trap had already been set when he arrived, he would have been the one to activate it. He didn't because everything was pristine when I opened the door."

Nodding, Haruhi agreed, "And he was the one that warned us about the flour. Sorry, but the knot holding the fallen bag is poorly tied. Not something the twins would do."

"She's right," Hikaru announced as he inspected the flour bag lying on the floor.

All eyes turned to the blond. Tamaki started to sweat profusely, his composure was weakening, his face was turning blue, and then he lost it, "ALRIGHT IT WAS ME! It was me!" He started to cry and told everyone what happened without any further prodding, "Mommy keeps rescuing daughter, so I thought I would set this up and when the twins came through the door with Haruhi, I would save her, but it was mommy that came in with her! He was still supposed to be at his meeting! My father told me it would be a long one and I knew it would be my chance!" His tone was slightly accusatory as he spoke.

"So you set all this up just to play hero, Tama-Chan?" Hunny inquired, shaking his head in disappointment while everyone else sweat dropped.

"Well, I just wanted to rescue her once," Tamaki mumbled.

Adjusting his glasses, several red tick marks appearing, Kyoya growled, "You did at the Ouran Fair. What you did today put her in danger and we had to close the club! You are going to clean up this mess!"

Smiling, the blond stated, "No problem, I will just call…"

The Shadow King grabbed his friend's phone and smirked, "No one. You will call no one, and no one will help you. You made the mess, you can clean it up… NOW!"

"Bu-Bu-But mommy!"

"Clean it up Tama-Chan," Hunny sneered, his dark aura coming out. How did he look so cute and so dangerous at the same time?

"EEK!" Tamaki looked to his best friend for help and found another dark aura. Scared for his life he jumped into the air and when he came down, it was in the middle of the red puddle and after running on water for a couple seconds, he landed face first in paint.

Grabbing his brother and pulling him away from Haruhi, Kaoru whispered, "It looks like no matter who pulls the prank, Kyoya-senpai is always there to save her."

"And their getting even closer! How do we stop it?" Hikaru whispered back.

"I don't think we can." The younger twin had watched the natural host and the cool host as they stood there, and if he wasn't mistaken, the feelings were already there. Feeling someone watching him, he found Hunny smiling at him. Did the loli shota host know? The small giggle from the shorter man confirmed it and more. Kaoru had a feeling Hunny knew and wanted it to happen. Was there a way to stop the train wreck… uh love train?