I revised some parts of this chapter because I thought that it was kind of confusing.. The part where Haruhi and Kyouya was in the limo.. I'm very sorry if you received another notification about an update.. I will be updating soon though.. :)

DISCLAIMER: I swear, I do not own Ouran.

Thank you very much to all those who reviewed in chapter 1 :)

klaire-chan
Mainlymarie
Scherherazade
Marisol Akyri
MythStar Black Dragon

and to those who added this story to their favorites. :)

----

"Haruhi-chan, we heard about what happened. Are you okay?", a woman, about 40 years old, asked as the lawyer got out of Kyouya's office. Her face showed concern for the girl.

Though she's tired, Haruhi tried her best to look lively. "Hai! Arigato Katsuo-san. It's nothing serious actually. Hopefully though, my car would survive.", Haruhi smiled weakly as the woman chuckled at the girl's choice of words. "I am not hurt or anything. Except for the part that I have to endure the suffocating smell of my engine.", she added. The older woman laughed.

"Why not get a new one? You deserve it anyway.", the woman encouraged.

Haruhi tilted her head to the side, as if having a small conversation with herself. "Well, I'm not sure. Actually, the mechanic told me that right now, my car only has a 50 percent chance of being repaired. So yeah...", Haruhi said as she shrugged her shoulders. The woman nodded in agreement.

"Anyway, are you still going to the party tonight Haruhi-chan?", the woman asked after a second of silence.

"Of course.", she said expressionless. "I mean it's not like we can skip it, right?" Haruhi looked somewhat hopeful. Hopeful that a miracle will happen. Hopeful that Kyouya would tell her that she was allowed not to attend the party.. That she didn't need to wear a fancy dress.. That she could just go home and take her warm shower and peaceful sleep...

'how I wish....'

"So, now you have your very own inner mind theater?" Haruhi almost jumped in surprise upon hearing a voice behind her. By instinct, her eyes shot open and her body quickly turned around, only to find Kyouya with his eyebrows slightly raised.

"Senpai, please don't do that again.", she said as she tried to calm herself. "And no. I don't have an inner mind theater. Only Tamaki-senpai will do something like that.", she said as she remembered the times when the Blonde king would just sit around somewhere, having some bizarre imaginations that ranges from Haruhi being a lovely and sweet housewife, to Haruhi being seductive in a bunny costume.

"I didn't scare you.", he plainly said, interrupting the girl's thoughts. "Perhaps, it's just that you are too busy day dreaming in front of the doorway, completely oblivious of the fact that You are blocking busy people... like me." He continued with a smiled. That's the shadow king for you - an expert in sarcasm, mockery and such. Seriously, Haruhi can't help herself from wondering where on earth Kyouya learned how to insult without directly insulting. Amazing, isn't it? The lawyer rolled her eyes.

"Now, if you'll excuse me, I have a meeting to attend to.", he said as he pushed his glasses up. Haruhi just stepped to the side, without saying anything. The young lawyer didn't notice the knowing look that the older woman was giving her.

"Ahh. Young love...", was the last thing that Haruhi heard, before she noticed that Katsuo-san was already walking away.

"Eh?", Haruhi asked. Her expression filled with confusion. The woman stopped walking and turned her head back to Haruhi. 'What's with that smile?' Haruhi thought. The woman looked as if she was trying very hard not to grin or smile. Moreover, she winked at Haruhi, making the latter wonder what had happened. 'Is there something that I missed?'. She brushed off the thought and decided to start her work.

--

Fortunately, Haruhi's day didn't get any worse than it already was. Truth be said, she was expecting more setbacks to come her way that day. It's not like she was being negative, it's just that she didn't expect the sun to shine her way immediately after the unexpected storm. One minute she was so pissed, so down; the other, she felt good, on the right mood to work. She smiled at the thought.

'Life is a joke after all..'

----

"Bye."
"See you later."

Normally, most of the employees of the Ootori Company do not bid their good-byes at 5 o'clock in the afternoon. That would be too early, compared with the usual 11 o'clock dismissal. Well, it's not that Kyouya was forcing them to stay late at night every day. In fact, Kyouya was pleased to know that he didn't need to persuade his employees into working over time. He believed that, probably, that was one of the benefits of having only the best employees. He made sure that he only has the most diligent and the most competent. The success of his company was mostly thanks to his team. In return, he paid them good money and gave them grand incentives. Now tell me, who wouldn't want to be working under the Ootori? As long as you do your job excellently, maintain professionalism, and stay on Kyouya's good side, then you'll have no problem at all.

"Are you seriously planning on walking all the way to your house?", said a spectacled man as the limo slowly followed the woman with a short brown hair.

BUT, for one Haruhi Fujioka, giving all her best seemed to be not enough to stay on her boss's good side. Why? Because for the last 3 years, there was no doubt that the young lawyer was one of the top assets of the company; yet, her boss would always found a loophole somewhere. He would always talk Haruhi into this-and-that. Calling her attention for things that, well, wasn't necessarily related to her job.

"No.", she said as she stopped on her tracks, looking at the man inside the car. "What's the point of having cabs around senpai?", she backfired.

"Indeed, your are right Haruhi.", he agreed. "Although, I wonder where are the 'cabs' that you are talking about. I believe that I do not even see one."

The girl's jaw dropped. 'Could he possibly...'

"Senpai, you don't have anything to do with this, do you?", she asked suspiciously as she narrowed her eyes at the shadow king.

"No. Not at all." He smirked. "But, since I am a loving boss, I would gladly offer you a ride home." Kyouya finished with a host-like tone. Haruhi surrendered, knowing that she might be late for the party that night if she kept waiting for the "missing" cabs.

----

"So, have you been thinking about how will you make up for the trouble that you caused me this morning?" Haruhi's thoughts were interrupted by the spectacled man sitting on her left.

"Really, Kyouya-senpai, are you going to remind me of that for the rest of my life?", she asked with an unreadable expression.

"No.", he simply replied without lifting his gaze from his laptop. "Just until you make it up to me.", he added with a smile. A smile that made Haruhi shiver a bit. A smile didn't seem good at all.

Sigh.

"I have a feeling that apology and saying sorry is not enough to make it up to you senpai."

Which means: 'Am I hearing about another debt senpai?'

.

"We are talking about large investments here my dear. Sad to say, I didn't expect to lose some profit. And therefore, I'm afraid that you are right."

Translation: 'Possibly.'

.

"While I know that I have to repay you somehow, I don't think that I am not in the same page as you are senpai."

'What exactly do you mean?'

.

"Interesting. You are a very smart lawyer, and your intelligence is certainly above the majority. I'm sure that you have an idea on where this is getting at."

'What do you think?'

.

"You are not one who likes to beat around the bush senpai. And so, I am wondering why is it that you are answering my question with a question?"

'Just get directly to the point Kyouya-senpai'

"..."

". . ."

"So, are you telling to me that you already want to get down to business Haruhi?"

'Are you sure?'

.

"If you please."

'Yes, I am.'

"..."

Kyouya closed his laptop and slightly straightened himself up. Haruhi, on the other hand, got herself ready for what was about to come.

"Simple.", he started. "Marry me...", he softly said with his head bowed down.

"..........."

x+x+x+x+x+x+x+x+x+x

Her body was startled by the sudden stop of the car.

Blink. Blink.

Before the scene registered in her mind, she heard a someone spoke near her ear.

"What is that Tachibana?", he asked dangerously.

'So, it was just a dream...' she sighed. Haruhi remembered everything. Right, she was on her way home, waiting for a cab, when a familiar limo slowed down and followed her as she walked. The window of the car rolled down, revealing a raven-haired man with spectacles that reflected the bright shine of the sun. Haruhi remembered the conversation they had before everything turned dark. 'If I'm correct, we were talking about how would I pay the money that he said he lost because of me...' The lawyer can't quite remember how their deal had ended, or if it actually had ended. 'Marry me...' She knew that she had heard those words from the shadow king before she blacked out. But then... 'Kyouya-senpai wouldn't just randomly ask me to marry him.'

"Gomen, Ootori-sama. A kid suddenly crossed the street.", his body guard said appologetically.

Haruhi looked up at Kyouya, only to realize that her head was leaning on his shoulder. Kyouya, on the other hand, looked down at her, making their faces dangerously close to each other. The girl's eyes widened, while Kyouya's face remained expressionless. Haruhi immediately jumped a couple of feet away. Her sleepy mind now full-awake, as if someone poured a cold water in her face. She shook her head and paused.

"Kyouya-senpai, what are you doing?", she asked bluntly, back to her old self.

"Me? Well, I am practically forced to provide comfort for a Fujioka lawyer who fainted about.." He paused as he looked at his watch. "Fifteen minutes ago.", he finished.

"Oh. I see..", she said thoughtfully. "I'm sorry." Haruhi sincerely said.

pause

"You've been over working yourself again lately, don't you Haruhi?", he asked, even though his voice suggested that he already know the answer.

"I can handle it senpai.", she said. Kyouya raised an eyebrow without saying a word.

Haruhi knew that there was no point in lying to the shadow king. Sigh. "Okay, you're right. Maybe I am working too much.", she looked down. "Honestly, I've not been getting good sleeps lately..."

'Probably why I got that nightmare.' she thought.

"What nightmare?"

"Eh?!", she looked back up at him. "How did you read my mind?", she asked cautiously.

He looked at her as if she said something stupid. "I didn't read your mind Haruhi... You said it aloud." He pushed his glasses up as Haruhi stared dumbfounded.

"So, will you provide me the pleasure of sharing me your so-called nightmare?" Kyouya could swear that he saw Haruhi stiffened at his question.

"Well, it' not really a nightmare Kyouya-senpai... I mean, I just exaggerated what I said."

"Okay. And what might that be?" He kept his calm even though he started to get annoyed.

"It's uhm....", she slowly said. "Oh look! We're here!", she exclaimed as she look outside the window. They were already in front of Haruhi's apartment. "Thank you for the ride Kyouya-senpai. I'll see you later." With that, Haruhi got out of the car and quickly walked inside her house.

She closed the door and leaned her back for support.

"I can't tell him about it now, can I?"

'....What nightmare?' Kyouya's voice echoed her mind.

"No. Definitely not. Who knows what he will do if he learns that I just compared him with a nightmare?", she told herself. "I don't want another debt. Especially to the shadow king himself....." sigh

Haruhi looked at her watch and decided to get ready for the party.

"Whatever..."

--

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