"Haruhi Fujioka, cousin of Haruhi Fujioka?" Kaoru repeated. Laughter erupted from the twins once more, their bodies shaking against Haruhi's as they sat on one of the beds in room 4291.
After the Host Club had made their quick get away with Haruhi in tow, they had opted to gather in the room that Haruhi and the twins shared. Mitsukuni and Takashi occupied the side of Haruhi's bed while the twins had decided to drag their "toy" onto their bed. Tamaki was rapidly pacing around floor, muttering to himself. Kyoya observed the club's behavior from the chair situated in the corner of the room and, every so often, he would pinch the bridge of his nose to relieve himself of the pain forming beneath his fingertips.
"Umehito Nekozawa must not find out Haruhi's secret!" Tamaki exclaimed. He was worried about the possible addition of yet another suitor seeking the affections of his most precious daughter. A father could only take so much! Already, he had to deal with those two mischievous twins that were continuously latching onto his darling daughter's body. And then there was that breakfast with Morinozuka that he certainly hadn't approved of first! Even worse, there was Ritsu Kasanoda, the yakuza heir, lurking next door. It was evident that the redhead was fond of their club's "natural-type." Daddy did not approve.
"He won't," Kyoya replied as he watched his distraught friend turn and continue pacing in the opposite direction, "as long as Haruhi continues to keep up appearances," he fixed a shriveling gaze on their youngest member at this, "and doesn't reveal her secret."
"But couldn't you have come up with something a bit more creative than her real name?" Hikaru asked.
"Haruhi would undoubtedly slip up and then, with her identity revealed, she wouldn't be able to serve as a host any longer," Kyoya stated. He was fully aware of the fact that if Nekozawa decided to just ask if she was really a girl, Haruhi would bluntly provide a truthful answer. She was an incredibly honest person. Such a flaw in the commoner's character would undoubtedly serve as a pain in his backside for the remainder of the trip.
"Waiii! Haruhi can't leave us," Hunny wailed at the thought of their sole-female member taking leave of the club.
"Besides," Kyoya said as he pushed his glasses further up his nose, "Nekozawa is now convinced that they are cousins."
"How can you be so sure?" Tamaki cried out. Even he thought "mother's" plan was incredibly transparent.
"He was ogling Haruhi's chest," Hikaru chimed in, having caught the lowered gaze of Nekozawa and the embarrassed expression that followed. So maybe the guy wasn't ogling, but he had definitely been looking. However, the exaggeration provided the desired reaction.
"WHAT?!" Tamaki bellowed, having been totally oblivious to such an event ever occurring.
"Haruhi," Kyoya said, ignoring the blond's outburst as he addressed the girl, "if you manage to keep your true gender a secret, I will reduce your debt by a third."
"But," Haruhi replied, momentarily shutting her wide, chocolate eyes, "wouldn't my debt be gone if my gender was revealed?"
Kyoya smirked at that, replying, "You still owe the club a considerable amount of money. Although you wouldn't be able to serve as a host, you would continue to be indebted to us. I believe you can still recall your time as the club's lackey, can you not?"
'Pure evil,' Haruhi thought to herself. She didn't miss the flicker of light that slid across Kyoya's glasses as he continued to smirk at her.
The twins smiled at their "toy" mischievously. Oh, she was fun as a host, but as their lackey? Maybe they should just reveal her to Nekozawa as a female. Then again, she wouldn't be just their lackey. She'd be everyone else's lackey, too. And that idea didn't bode very well with the brothers.
Hikaru tossed a dark glance at the ever-stoic senior while Kaoru's eyes trailed over to the blond haired club president who had yet to cease in his pacing. Having her as the club's lackey would definitely not do.
"Fine," Haruhi solemnly complied. She had no desire to return to the days of her being stuck as the club's "dog." If she had to continue on in that manner of service, she would, without a doubt, still be in the club well through her college years. At least, as a host, she'd most likely be free of their eccentricities by the time she graduated from Ouran.
Kyoya felt his lips twist upward. He was giving her his professional smile. He usually reserved the facial expression for those that he held business with. It was crisp, insincere, and almost threatening. The gesture sent chills down the girl's spine. Whenever he smiled at her like that, it always made her feel like she was dealing with the devil rather than a high school student. For all she knew, the Shadow King could easily match the criteria.
"Now then! Seeing as that's settled, is anyone up for a late lunch?" Kyoya inquired in a more pleasant tone. Haruhi, who should have been used to the dramatic changes in the "cool-type's" behavior, was still momentarily stunned by how his icy smile seemed to melt away.
Haruhi's stomach voiced her reply as it emitted a low growl. She had eaten very early in the morning, but not since then. Even though Kyoya had offered her some of his popcorn during the movie, she hadn't been willing to chance another addition to her debt. Not only that, but the twins and Hunny had pinned her to her seat throughout the whole movie.
"Oh, my poor daughter!" Tamaki proclaimed, having overheard the sound, "Don't fret, for daddy will ensure that you are well nourished!"
"Perhaps we need to contact child services. My lord isn't doing a good job at taking care of Haruhi," Kaoru said.
"Yeah," Hikaru agreed, "first the movie, and then laser tag, and now this?"
"We're much better suited to take care of Haruhi," the twins chorused together before lowering their voices, "we can easily fulfill her needs." Hikaru snuggled Haruhi's cheek while Kaoru gave the crimson-faced Tamaki a lazy smile.
Kyoya coughed, interrupting their moment and sparing himself the trouble of another headache, "If anyone wishes to change into a more comfortable outfit before lunch, we can meet at the banquet hall in fifteen minutes."
"Come on, Takashi," Hunny said as he jumped to his feet. The two cousins trailed out of the room; Takashi ducking under the doorway as he followed the smaller senior towards their room. Hunny had an exuberant smile on his face as he thought of all of the sugary sweets that awaited him.
Kyoya grabbed onto Tamaki's shirt's collar and proceeded to drag the blond behind him. He tossed over his shoulder, just as he was about to close the door, "Don't be late." He also added in another spine-chilling smile just for good measure before promptly slamming the door in his wake.
Finally, just the three of them, the twins shot each other knowing smiles.
"So Haruhi," purred Kaoru.
"Yes?" she asked. She was either ignoring his newly adopted tone of voice or she was just oblivious to the fact of whether it even mattered or not. Knowing her, it was most likely the latter.
"Now that we're alone," Kaoru continued, "we can have you all to ourselves."
"For another fourteen minutes," Haruhi replied dryly as she caught a glimpse of the time from over the twin's shoulder. It was just after one o'clock, and she did not want to find out as to what Kyoya had in store for the three if they were late.
"Don't either of you want to change?" Haruhi asked after a moment of being the recipient of a multitude of snuggling and nuzzling from the twins.
Hikaru smiled wryly and whispered against the nape of her neck, "We want to change you."
Kaoru copied his twin's smile, "Whatever shall we dress you in?"
"Whatever it would be," Haruhi stated, "would only be a waste of clothing. I haven't been wearing this dress too long."
Hikaru wrinkled his nose distastefully, "Why wouldn't you want to change out of it? You've already worn it for half the day. Don't you know that you should change clothes at least three times a day?"
"Why should I?" Haruhi inquired.
"Exercise, school, business, going around town, house-ware, meetings, appointments," Kaoru ticked off each category on his fingers.
"That hardly seems necessary," she deadpanned, but was really thinking, 'Rich bastards.'
Hikaru and Kaoru rolled their eyes at her.
"Besides, you've probably got dirt and sweat all over you," Kaoru stated, referring to her time spent playing laser tag.
"You should be glad that we're not dumping you in the bathtub," Hikaru added.
She shrugged the comment off, wishing their restrictive arms would fall away too.
"But if you want," Kaoru put in suggestively.
Hikaru finished his brother's offer, "we wouldn't mind joining you."
Haruhi was only too use to their ridiculous comments and merely brushed them off. She slid out of their three-person embrace and made her way to the drawer.
"Fine," Haruhi stated, "I'll change."
"Need help?" Hikaru offered, but the two reclaimed their positions at her side and were digging through the drawer before she could turn them away.
Kaoru pulled out a lacy pair of panties and dangled them in front of her face. He gave her a wicked smile, but she ignored it and took the white gaucho pants and purple tank top that Hikaru held out to her.
"And no," Haruhi said as she made her way to the bathroom, "I don't need your help on this."
With that, she closed the bathroom door on the two Hitachiin brothers and hoped that Kyoya wouldn't mind too much if they were just a little late.