DISCLAIMER: I do not own Ouran.

AUTHOR'S NOTES: Beta-ed by warmsugar. Feedbacks/reviews/comments are very much welcome!

Late

By Kalachuchi

Haruhi was humming softly as she slipped inside her car. She turned on the ignition, ready to go, when she heard a weird wheezing sound before the engine suddenly died.

"Eh?"

She tried the ignition again, before finally realizing what that noise she had heard earlier meant.

"This is not good."

She looked at her watch and saw in horror what it read. She was already ten minutes late for her rendezvous with Kyoya and she was already dreading a week's worth of conscience torture.

"Why is there not one taxi stopping?" she panicked, breathing heavily. "I know everyone is busy but this is ridiculous." She flagged down an empty cab – then another - but no one even gave her a second glance.

"Just one taxi. Please," she begged no one in particular.

Finally, it seemed that Heaven pitied her. A yellow cab slowly stopped in front her. She looked at the sky, said a little prayer and quickly got in.

"I'm saved."

Kyoya wasn't picking his phone up. Is he already mad? She wondered anxiously. If he would just answer, he'd understand why she'd be late. Maybe he wouldn't give her too much of a hard time once she-

"Oh no."

Haruhi dreaded the tone the taxi driver used. "What is it?" she asked, looking up.

The taxi driver glanced at her sheepishly. "I'm sorry. I thought that if I use this shortcut, we'll arrive at the restaurant in no time, but…"

The pounding of her heart deafened her ears as she looked outside the window. They were caught in the middle of a traffic jam caused by something huge – like a big, black truck – blocking the intersection. She felt her jaw drop in disbelief as the phone on the other line continued to ring.

Kyoya gave a sigh of relief as he saw Haruhi quickly making her way to his limo. He stepped out to meet her.

"You're late."

"I'm sorry," she gasped. "My car broke down, I couldn't –pants­- get a ride and we were caught in traffic."

He stared at her flushed face and almost felt sorry for the admonishment he was about to give her. He turned around and lightly pushed his glasses up. Well, almost.

"Don't worry, I'm not blaming you." He paused. "Although I would just like to remind that it was you who practically forced me to come to this… birthday party of your colleague. I'm sure you know what a busy man I am and that time is very important in our business. I just hope I'm going to enjoy this and that my two-hour wait was worth it. But other than that, there's no problem."

He looked over his shoulder to smile at her. "Okay?"

Mother in Heaven, what have I done wrong? Haruhi wondered, twitching.

The taxi driver watched as Kyoya and Haruhi entered the restaurant. He really felt sorry for her. She was such a kind woman.

He lowered his cap over his eyes and began to drive away.

But an order is an order.

Earlier that afternoon…

"You mean that's today?" Kyoya looked at her sharply.

His new secretary gulped nervously. "Y-Yes sir."

"Cancel it. I have to go somewhere with Haruhi."

"But sir, you've already cancelled this meeting twice. The board members would not like this."

He glared at her and she whimpered in fear. He knew she was right, but what should he do?

"Izumi."

She stepped back in instinct. An irritated Kyoya is never a good omen. "Yes sir?" she asked timidly.

"How long with this take me?"

"An hour or two, sir."

He sighed. "You may go." Izumi never followed an order as happily as she did that time. Kyoya picked up his phone and speed-dialed Haruhi's office.

"This is Kyoya. Mobilize the Ootori police force… I don't care if you still have to finish the paperwork she gave you. You were – and still are- the captain of this army before you became her secretary… Good… I want you to delay her for at least an hour and a half… I know she's excited about this day but that has nothing to do with my order, does it? I'm glad we understand each other."

Well, if he was being forced to sit through a commoner's party he might as well have Haruhi enjoy it as much as he would. After all, a guilty-looking and flustered Haruhi, who looked so adorable when she panicked— never failed to amuse him.