-xchapter 4x-

Hikaru stared at the white-washed door in front of him. He couldn't believe he is standing in the middle of the landing, just staring at the door. What compelled him to come here was forced, but the sight of the door in front him gave a sign; there is no turning back from what he is going to do.

"Hikaru," Kaoru asked, standing next to him. "Just ring the bell already."

Hikaru shook his head and replied, "I can't." He took a step back.

Kaoru sighed and went to the door. He was about to press when his brother caught his hand. "What are you doing? I thought you didn't want to ring."

"I change my mind. I want to do it." Kaoru backed off and allowed his brother access to the ringer.

Hikaru's finger abruptly stopped midway and shook his head. "…"

"Hikaru, are you sure you want to ring the bell?"

"…"

"Hikaru! If you're not going to ring the bell, then let me." He pushed his brother aside and stretched his index finger moving closer to the tiny button of the apartment. Out of nowhere, another finger is heading toward the target and pressed it.

Kaoru looked at his brother, breathing as if he just won battle. He inwardly smiled and stepped back to allow the person who's going to answer some space.

The turning of a lock can be heard and the brass knob slowly opened. The twins, meanwhile stared at the turning knob anticipating the person they hoped to talk to. But as the door slowly opened, a smiling face of Ranka greeted them. "Hello boys, what can I help you with?"

Kaoru looked at his brother, who stood there mildly depressed. He turned to the side and, knowing him, wouldn't want to speak. Kaoru mentally apologized and matched Ranka's smile. "We were wondering if Haruhi is home."

"I'm sorry boys, but she went out an hour ago."

"I see…" he trailed.

A minute of silence. "It's strange." Ranka looked at the boys with an interrogating expression.

"What is it Ranka-san?" Kaoru replied, starting to feel uncomfortable under his gaze.

"Kyoya-kun told me the whole host club was having a meeting." He walked closer the boys and eyed them. "Yet you're here asking for Haruhi?"

"Uh…" Kaoru took a quick glance at his brother and, after receiving an expression resembling "I'm not helping," turned back to the speaker and answered, "There was a meeting, and she left saying she needed to go home because she still needs to study. We were about to leave when Kyoya suddenly said he forgot to remind her that we have another meeting Monday. We," he pointed to himself and his brother, "volunteered to tell it for him." Ranka watched amused at the young teenager's excuse. And this gaze didn't go unnoticed by Kaoru. "Hm… but since she's not home, I'll tell her later then," replied nervously. "I guess we'll be going now." Kaoru turned to his twin and pushed him down the landing.

"Hold it you two." The two looked at the amused crossdresser. "Come inside. I need to speak with you." The twins look at each other. They hesitantly complied.

-----

Staring at the computer screen, Kyoya Ootori double checked the inventory of the photo magazine sales. So far, the Tamaki collection is completely gone. It was only logical since many of his fans missed his princely attributes and, apparently, having a picture of the king is the closest they can get to him. He sighed. Printing out more will only depreciate the value of those magazines, but there are girls willing to pay over a billion yen for one book. But there will be more money to spend for the expensive cake and teas. He rubbed the bridge of his nose thinking a solution to the dilemma. He looked long and hard at the numbers and calculated a simple method on increasing the club's budget.

"Ahem."

Kyoya tore his eyes away from the screen and stared at the irritated expression of his female companion sitting across from him.

"You woke me up early this morning Kyoya-senpai and you just want me to watch you type? What exactly do you want to tell me, senpai?" Haruhi asked.

Kyoya finished the last of his inventory and closed his laptop. He fixed his glasses before turning to face the girl. He looked at her. Simple enough, she was wearing clothes more suitable to her gender. "As you know Haruhi, there have been a loss of clientele from the club. Majority of the designations is for Tamaki, but since he isn't around, they would not stay as long as they usually do."

Haruhi looked at her senpai and nodded in agreement.

"Fortunately, I have a plan to get those designations back; we need to have everyone take a load of Tamaki's clients." He stared at the young girl. "I have everything figured out," he opened his notebook. "I will take twenty percent, Mori and Hunny together will get twenty percent and the twins will also have twenty percent. As for you," he stared at the girl, "you will have forty percent."

At the shadow king's plan, Haruhi stood there mouth opened, bug-eyed – a look of total shock. "I don't get it senpai. Why do I have to have more than either one of them?" she asked after her stupor.

"Do you know where Tamaki went?"

"To France. So what if he's taking a mini vacation. We can hold off his clients until he returns."

"But, per say, if he's not coming back? What then?"

"Tamaki-senpai? Not coming back? Senpai, I think you might be over thinking the situation."

"Believe me, Haruhi, I'm not," he answered seriously.

She looked at his face, still incredulous. There is just no way Tamaki would get up and leave forever because of a silly little argument. Seriously, he wouldn't go to extremes just so he wouldn't have to see her. He could've gone to the other side of the country and she wouldn't bother him. But France is different. It's like saying "I'm changing my way of life. I'm starting over." There is just no way Tamaki would do something like this. That is so uncharacteristic of him. Right?

Her incredulousness slowly faltered as the thoughts of the prince leaving forever run continuously in her mind. Kyoya jot down her expression and inwardly smiled. "There is a way for me to relieve the burden that I have so plainly given you," he started at the stupefied freshman.

She got out of her reverie and focused her attention to the man sitting before her. "If you're going to add those forty percent to my debts, forget it. I'm having trouble as it is."

The shadow king shook his head slightly and replied, "I'll disperse your share of Tamaki's clients so that everyone is equal. But," he looked directly at the young lady, now shifting uncomfortably in her seat, "you must tell me what happened between the two of you."

-----

Stuffy. That is the feeling of the apartment of the Fujioka's. It's as if the whole atmosphere suddenly transformed itself into a living and breathing thing, staring at the oncoming visitors as prey. The little teapot on the stove made its call, beckoning the resident to release its bubbling confines into something worth drinking.

After filling three cups with tea, Ranka made his way to the sitting room where his two visitors were idly looking around the room. He gently set a cup for each of them and ushered them to drink the warm liquid. He relished the taste and looked intently at the boys, who continued to stare at the tea. "Come now you two. It's not poisoned. Have a little sip."

The twins looked at each other and shrugged. They each grabbed their cups and drank the beverage. It wasn't expensively delicious, but it sufficed. They looked at the man across from them, an amused smile playing on his lips. "So why exactly did you invite us, Ranka-san?" the younger twin spoke first.

Ranka continued to look at the boys. "You really didn't think I'd fall for your excuse, now do you?"

The twins shook their heads. "We apologize," the two said in unison.

Ranka turned to look at the older brother, "Ah! I see you do have a voice. Nice to hear it Hikaru-kun."

"I apologize for my rude behavior earlier," Hikaru mumbled.

"No need," the older man replied, nearly laughing. "But," he puts down his cup of tea. "I have something to ask you," he continued, seriousness now covering his once bubbly tone. "You two want to tell me what is wrong with my daughter?"

The two looked at each other before Kaoru replied. "We don't know for sure."

"Ah, but you have a guess. Do tell me what you think is going on." He continued to look at the teenagers. There is something the Host Club is hiding from him. He can just feel it. Not to mention Haruhi's behavior lately. When was the last time he had seen her stay up to finish her homework? Never. It's not like her. And the little call from the school about her in the classroom. He was appalled to hear it, but he told them it was because she was helping him at the store. Afterall, it was somewhat a decent excuse. He knows Haruhi longer than anyone in the club and if she wants to talk about what's bothering her, then he'll be there to hear her out.

But it's been three weeks. Nearly a month has passed since she walked into the house completely beaten and dejected. He tried to cheer her up, but she put on a cheery mask so as not to worry him. Nonetheless, he still feels for his daughter. And whatever is bothering her is eating at her insides and distorting everything around her. He needs to know what is going on to help her in any way he can. You can fool the people around you, Haruhi, but you can't fool me.

"Ranka-san," Kaoru started, making Ranka jump away from his reverie. "Well, you see, there is a little problem with the Host Club right now. We have dwindling members recently, and we're trying to cope as best as we can." Ranka continued to look at the boys. "Because of these dwindling members, we've been working hard to get more members to come."

"What does this have to do with my Haruhi?"

"Well, because of new clients, we have been very busy with the club. Hence, Haruhi's behavior. She overworked herself every meeting. That is all."

"I see…" Ranka looked at the two boys and smiled. He picked up his mug and drank his warm tea.

Kaoru took this as a safe sign to ask, "We have to get going now. Thank you for the tea." He started to get up and his brother soon followed.

They were about to leave until they heard Ranka's voice once again. "Hold it you two." His voice is completely stern and there was a hint of annoyance. "I'm not letting you go that easily." The twins look down uncomfortably at the man sitting across from them. They look at each other one having an expression of worry the other of curiosity. "Sit down you two." They hesitated before seating themselves again.

Ranka continued sipping his tea, while the boys move in their seats. He placed the mug down and look directly at the boys. "You two think I'm going to buy that? Not a chance." His voice became softer, "Please, just tell me what is wrong with my daughter. Why is that every time she comes home she is in a daze and goes straight to her room? Why does she stay up longer than necessary to finish her work? Tell me, why is she is suffering and not tell her father anything?"

Kaoru looked down at his hands. Who knows what this man is going to do with Haruhi when he finds out? He'd probably tell her to quit the club, and this might further depress his brother. And there was Tamaki too. Sure he empathizes with his brother, but Tamaki is the reason they are together and for that he owes him a great deal. Ranka-san might beat the crap out of him when he comes home. He looked at his brother, who was staring at his tea. He was thinking as well, what it was, Kaoru couldn't discern.

"Ranka-san," Hikaru started. The older man turned to look at him. "Like what my brother said, there is a problem at the host club."

Ranka sighed.

"But it's not for the reason Kaoru said."

Ranka perked up and looked at the boy.

"He-"

"Hikaru, please stop. I think it's a matter between Haruhi and the Host Club."

"Kaoru, this man wants to know what is wrong with her daughter. So I'll tell him."

"Hikaru, I think Haruhi should be the one to tell him."

"She would've done it by now, wouldn't she?" he spat.

Kaoru turned away from his brother's face. He couldn't argue anymore. When Hikaru acts like this, he knows he had lost. There is no way he could convince his brother otherwise. Why he wants to tell Ranka-san he couldn't figure out.

"Hikaru-kun please continue. Tell me what is wrong with her."

"Tamaki-senpai left the country, because of something that happened between the two."

A/N: i finally finished this chapter... too tired to write more... also don't mind any mistakes... darn christmas shopping... so sleepy...

reviews/constructive criticism please!