Author's Note: Okay, instead of trying to reply to reviews individually like I have been, I'm going to reply to them at the beginning of each chapter to make life easier (especially since I have a habit of deleting my reviews from my inbox after reading them anyway).

Scherherazade: This chapter will answer your question, but for the sake of your question, Kyouya's previous servant was a female. But as for why she left, that won't be revealed for a bit more. Haha, suspense!

Anyway, on to the next chapter!

Chapter Four: The First Day

"It clearly says in my father's will that I am to inherit our estate--"

"You have no idea what words you speak of, Haruhi. You're barely twelve! Not even out of childhood yet! You have no say in these matters."

The young brunette firmed up her posture, "Yes I do! As the sole Fujioka, I have every right! I may still be considered a child to society, but I am perfectly capable of running the estate on my own!"

"You will not. As of today, the Fujioka estate belongs to us. You, Haruhi, will be going with Miss Okama and be spending your life at her brothel. Of course, until you are of age, you'll just be their servant, but once turn eighteen, you will be available like all women in your predicament."

Haruhi couldn't believe the words that came from the mouth of the man her family trusted for so long. "You're sending me to the brothel!? What is wrong with you? How can you be so heartless to do that, especially knowing how Mother felt about myself keeping intact?" she yelled.

"You know the rules of society."

"Rules are meant to be broken. And today, these rules are going to be broken and reset!"

Haruhi grabbed a knife and her jacket, running out the door, "I refuse to become a lady of the evening and give myself away! I will leave now, but I swear to return and gain back my family's estate! This estate was meant to be mine, just as my father wanted it to be, and it will be!"

Groaning and turning in the uncomfortable bed, Haruhi opened her sleepy eyes to view the wall, "...How it all began...how nostalgic..."

She turned again, unconsciously straightening out the nightdress she found in her new dresser left behind by the previous servant, hoping for the rest of her sleep to be peaceful and dreamless.

The entire time, she didn't notice that Kyouya was watching her from his bed, his eyes not hiding behind his manipulative frames. His lips were curved into a soft smirk as he mouthed a simple good night to her before settling down under his sheets.

"Haruhi...oh Haruhi...Haruhi!"

"Ugh, what the hell Dillon!"

Kyouya smirked, his eyes mischievously shining behind his glasses, "Dillon? Is that a lover of yours, my new servant?"

Suddenly Haruhi remembered where she was and she growled angrily despite the sleep still lacing her voice, "Shut the hell up. If you must know, he was the one that gave me a place to stay while I was a thief, and will continue to do so once I get out of here. Although it's going to be like I never left there, since you're just as freaking annoying as him."

She began to sit up in the bed, ignorant of her state of dress until she looked down and quickly realized the nightdress. "Ack! Will you please turn around while I get up and leave to change?" she asked promptly, lifting her sheet to cover herself in all modesty.

"My my, sensitive, are we?"

"A man should never see a woman in their night clothes until their marriage. Now if you could give me that little bit of respect, I would appreciate it."

With a bit of a chuckle echoing from his throat, Kyouya turned around, "Very well. But afterward, I want some breakfast, and then you can do my laundry."

"Jerk...but thank you."

By the afternoon, Haruhi learned how evil the young Ohtori lord could be.

Besides getting his breakfast (and his lunch later that day) as well as doing his laundry ("Hunny, can you PLEASE get these for me!" she exclaimed at the sight of his undergarments), he also had her running around doing other various chores that she hadn't done in at least ten years.

"Go and feed the horses."

"I want to start sitting out in the garden during dinner. Go and clean off the table and chairs."

"Clean up the room. It's a mess after our little scrabble yesterday."

"Haruhi, get me a copy of The Art of War from the library."

Tired and eye twitching, she collapsed into the garden, "Ugh, is he really that freaking lazy? Can he really expect one person to do all the damn work he wants done? Seriously, no wonder his previous servants left! He should be glad I'm no ordinary woman!"

She sighed, closing her eyes as her arms sprawled out in the grass. She felt the wind blow through her hair, ruffling her freshly-washed clothes, and finally she smiled. At last, she was at peace.

"Haru-chan! Kyou-chan wants you!"

Well, until that moment. "Of course he does. Freaking bastard," she muttered, opening her eyes.

"I heard that! No-no!"

It was barely a surprise to anyone when Haruhi went to bed early, and was sound asleep before the moon reached its peak in the sky. Her body was fully covered in her sheet with the heavy quilt at her feet, just in case the night air that came in through the window became too much.

She didn't hear a single sound echo into the room that night, her sleep too deep and peaceful. A good thing, Kyouya remarked, when he entered the room late that evening and shut the window with a loud slam.

"She's worn out," he whispered softly into the night as he stood over her bedside, "Even as a thief, you're not used to this kind of work, are you? Or at least, not anymore, am I correct? A woman like you couldn't have started out as a thief."

She didn't stir as he brushed his fingers through her bangs, pushing them away from her face, "Thank you, Haruhi. Sleep well. Good night."

He may be an evil lord, but Kyouya can be a bit of a softy! Anyway, until the next chapter, ja ne!