Holy Moley, I can't believe how long it's been since my last update! Problem was at the end of March I had my midterms and from that point on it was essays, projects, observation hours, and studying for finals! So yeah sorry that I haven't updated. Now that I'm on summer vacation though I hope to get right back into my writing!

Enjoy!

"Whew! Now that was quite a haul!" Mei exclaimed as she set down her shopping bags and plopped down onto a chair in the food court. Haruhi sat across from her, her shopping bags being of a much smaller amount, which she only got because Mei insisted. Haruhi was never a huge fan of shopping, and she had never actually been to a mall before, at least one of this size and luxury. She just never understood the point of spending long hours in such cramped quarters only to spend money on overpriced clothing.

"You sure bought a lot of things" Haruhi glanced at Mei's stash with large eyes, "How are you able to afford it all?"

Mei took a sip from her iced coffee and laughed, "Well when you work for the industry you tend to receive easy access to discounts."

"Oh, so you're an actual fashion designer?"

"Mhm! Also," Mei pulled out a platinum credit card, "This little trip is all on your husband today."

"H-how did you get that?"

"Slipped it out of his wallet while he was blubbering, it was almost too easy."

Before Haruhi had the chance to question the morality and legality of that issue, a loud song came from Mei's tiny purse. Mei huffed taking out an equally small pink cell phone and answered.

"Hello? What? Ugh seriously? Where's Kaoru?-Look I-UGH Fine! I'll be right there!" Mei hung up and slouched back in her seat, "Great, there goes my day off!"

"What's wrong?"

"Oh the idiots at my studio are having an emergency and need me to come over right away! Sorry, Haruhi, this was supposed to be our day."

"It's alright, I understand." Frankly Haruhi was ready to go back home and take a long nap-

"Wait, Haruhi, you should come with me to the studio!" Mei didn't even bother really asking, and before Haruhi could protest Mei grabbed her shopping bags in one arm, and grabbed Haruhi in the other, "It'll be so much more fun!"

A short taxi drive later into the heart of Tokyo's fashion central Haruhi found herself being dragged to the 7th floor of a large skyscraper where Mei was in a rush to get to a particular room. After walking through a long hallway they finally made through the double doors with a small sign out front simply labeled "Gyaru Girl" in English writing.

"Okay I'm here what do you hopeless people need?"

"M-Mei-san it's terrible!" One of the young female junior stylists ran over with two scarves in her hands "We don't know which one to use for the black romper design, the red paisley or the gray houndstooth!?"

"And the royal blue chiffon we ordered from Kyoto keeps fraying!" Another stylist yelled out in a panic.

At the same time a young man rushed over "Mei-San! Should we put the floral sundress with the orange background in the front of the ad or the purple ruffled babydoll with the denim shorts!?"

"You people…." Mei shook her head, "The Purple top and denim for the cover, use a 20 stitch French seam for the chiffon, and as for the scarf-," May took both fabrics in her hands, but then turned her head towards Haruhi who was lonely standing off to the side, "Haruhi?"

"Hm?"

"Which do you like?"

"Huh?" Haruhi said in surprise, she knew little to nothing about fashion, so it seemed silly to ask for advice from her. Then again, she did know what looked nice, " Um, the gray would probably work better?"

"The houndstooth?"

"uh, sure."

Mei and the designer studied the scarf carefully, "Haruhi, you're a genius!" Mei said with a large smile, the junior stylist sighed with relief as she went back to her own work.

"Well look at that, so your 15 year old brain wasn't just playing dumb the whole time, "Mei said jokingly, "Of course we wouldn't have had to come all the way down here if my co-stylist was around, WHERE THE F**** IS KAORU!?"

"He said his sister suddenly got sick and he needed to rush home immediately!"

"Ugh seriously?"

"Does Kaoru work with you, Mei-san?" Haruhi asked.

"Oh! Right I forgot to tell you that! You see after I graduated from design school and Kaoru from college, we decided to go into business together to start our own line of clothing! Although our line is simply a branch off of his own mother's company, it's great to have our own studio and be able to actually have the funding to show off my work!" Mei smiled then got serious, "I have to say, as big of a pain the host club is, I don't think I would be where I am if it weren't for them, Tamaki was even my first customer when I released my menswear line."

That sounded exactly like something Tamaki would do, and that made Haruhi smile.

"Haruhi?" A familiar voice from behind came, and there in the doorway stood Hikaru, dressed very casually and holding a cell phone.

"Hikari? What are you doing here?" Mei asked expectantly.

"Kaoru and I were supposed to have lunch today, he's not here?"

"No! Your sister got sick! Why aren't you with them?"

"huh?" Hikaru said confused, "What are you talking about? Ageha's fine, I was just over there as a matter of fact."

"I'M GOING TO KILL HIM!" Mei stormed across the studio in a rage, her co-workers quickly rushing out of the way to avoid the line of raging fire.

"Heh, guess I'm going to be a singleton by the end of the day."

"Huh?" Haruhi said a little worried,

"Don't worry, we just like to mess with Mei-chan, she knows we love her." Hikaru reassured her, "Actually considering my lunch date seems to be MIA, would you care to join me?"

"Oh? W-well I was supposed to spend the day with Mei."

"It doesn't seem like she's going to be available." Hikaru laughed.

"I don't want you to go through any trouble."

"It's no trouble at all, come on it'll be fun!"

Haruhi supposed that out of all the host club members, the twins were the ones she despised the least, and anyway, the doctor told her that she needed to be interacting with familiar people in order to regain her memory faster, going out to lunch probably wouldn't hurt.

"Okay, let's do it."

A while later, Haruhi and Hikaru were seated on the patio of a very fancy restaurant on the boulevard, where the tables had tablecloths and waiters actually handed you your menus individually.

Haruhi nearly fainted when she looked at the menu prices. "T-this is really expensive!"

"Don't worry, it's on me." Hikaru smiled.

"Oh no! I-I couldn't as you to do that!"

"Don't worry about it, anyway you'll just have to buy me a meal once you get your memory back."

Haruhi for some reason found herself blushing.

"So Kaoru works with Mei, what do you do?"

Hikaru took a sip from his coffee before speaking, "Oh I'm a game designer for a gaming company in the city. Mostly small stuff but I'm hoping to release some of my original stories soon."

"Wow, that's amazing, Hikaru." Haruhi smiled, a little softer than she had been, "I'm really happy for you."

Haruhi didn't notice, but Hikaru suddenly got tense.

It was almost nightfall then Haruhi had returned home, Hikaru driving her back himself, when they entered the Suoh mansion Tamaki was pacing the floor in worry.

"Haruhi!" Tamaki ran to his wife and grabbed her into a big hug out of habit, much to Haruhi's embarrassment. "Where have you been?! Mei said you disappeared and I was getting worried!"

"Mei had work so I just thought I'd take her out for some air, sorry I guess I should've called you."

Tamaki suddenly became a little more calm, but at the same time more tense,

"Well, the important thing is she's alright…thank you, Hikaru." Tamaki released Haruhi from his embrace and patted her head, more like how they used to.

"Thank you, Hikaru" Haruhi said with her signature polite bow that she used to do back in high school.

Hikaru hoped that Haruhi didn't sense the tinge of blush forming on his cheek, "Right, no problem Haruhi, I'll see you later."

"Yeah, see you."

Hikaru practically ran out the door as soon as the couple turned their backs towards the stairs. When Hikaru was finally out of the house he slumped against the door for a moment, his hand brushing over his face in embarrassment.

"This can't be happening again."