By the time breakfast was over neither one of them had said anything. Of course to Haruhi this was not surprising to her since it was Kyouya after all. When Kyouya finally did speak it startled her.

"Haruhi, did Ranka-san ever tell you what time he'd be home today?"

"No Kyouya-senpai he never did," she replied. She proceeded to leave the room to get her cell phone. She had just reached for it when it rang. She automatically answered it without checking to see who it was assuming that it was Ranka calling.

"Hello?"

"DAUGHTER," the voice on the other end yelled.

She cringed as soon as she heard the voice on the other end.

"Ah hello Tamaki-senpai," she responded.

"Haruhi what are your plans for this fine day," he asked.

"I planned to work on a paper and…" she started.

"Haruhi, is that Ranka on the phone," Kyouya interrupted from the background.

She stiffened and waited for Tamaki to begin yelling and sure enough after four seconds of silence it began.

"Haruhi what is Mother doing there? Does Daddy need to come over and protect you? I'll be over right away!"

Thinking quickly she assured Tamaki everything was fine or at least tried to. By this point Kyouya was in the room and noticed how quickly Haruhi was trying to explain something to someone. He stood there listening in hoping to find how just whom she was talking to. After standing there for a few seconds he realized exactly who it was when he heard her frantically yet calmly make up what sounded like an excuse.

"Well Kyouya-senpai is here to discuss a few ideas of appropriate cosplay for the next few weeks and how much of my debt has been paid off thus far."

She turned around to find a smirking Kyouya standing behind her. She glared at him and mouthed 'This is your fault' leaving him to wonder why it was his fault. Then it dawned on him that he had asked her a question from the other room earlier when he assumed that she was talking to Ranka but clearly it was someone else and the only person she'd have to make an excuse up for would be Tamaki. 'That idiot what does he want this early in the morning,' Kyouya thought. He shook his head and started to leave the room, but the sound of Haruhi clearing her voice stopped him in his tracks. He turned around looking at her with curiosity. She shook her head and mouthed 'You're not leaving this room yet.' He was taken a little bit aback from expression and attitude. He stayed there for a minute before walking out of the room. As soon as he reached the kitchen he heard Haruhi's footsteps following right behind him. She was still on the phone and as he turned around to say something Haruhi handed him the phone. He looked at her quizzically trying to figure out why she was handing him the phone. She just rolled her eyes and mouthed, 'Tamaki needs to talk to you.' It was Kyouya's turn to roll his eyes at that statement.

"Yes Tamaki," he said.

"IS MOTHER DOING SOMETHING IMPROPER WITH MY DAUGHTER," was yelled into his ear.

"Of course not you idiot," he briskly replied.

"Then why wasn't Daddy invited to this meeting, get together, whatever you want to call it," he asked a little more calmly.

"Well it was just to discuss her debt and I wanted to run some cosplay ideas, that you had come up with, past her to see if the themes chosen would have characters in them that would still allow her to conceal her identity as a girl," Kyouya replied.

"Ah is that all! Well then I had nothing to worry about, but then again it is just you Kyouya so there is definitely nothing to worry about," he said cheerily.

Kyouya's eyes darkened at that comment and something stirred inside. Haruhi who was still in the room noticed that he had stiffened and that he eyes had become darker. As he straightened up his glasses flashed in the light. Haruhi knew that something had been said that irritated Kyouya to get that response. 'I wonder what Tamaki said to get him that irritated,' she thought. Kyouya's voice snapped her out of her thoughts.

"Tamaki, I must get back to this meeting and I'd appreciate no more interruptions and you might want to rethink your assumptions," he said coldly.

Before Tamaki could say anymore Kyouya ended the conversation. He rubbed his temple for he could feel the beginnings of a headache. He glanced up to find Haruhi staring at him with curiousness in her eyes. He smiled slightly at her and said,

"It was just Tamaki being an idiot that's all."

She nodded her head, walked over to him and studied him a little closer. He didn't know what to think of this and could do nothing. She stared at him for another moment before leaving and going to get some Aspirin.

"Here take this before the headache gets too bad," she said.

"How did you know I had a headache," he asked.

"By the way you rubbed your temple and when I got closer I noticed that your eyes were darker," she said matter-of-factly.

"I didn't realize that I was that readable to you," he said.

"You weren't readable just predictable," she said.

Before he could say anymore she turned around and left the room. He was left in the quiet room to ponder what had just occurred. 'Predictable? Since when have I become predictable? Can she really read me that well?' He shook his head and headed upstairs back to his room. As he walked into his room he found Haruhi sitting by the far window looking out. 'She looks peaceful and relaxed,' he thought. He walked over to where she was and sat down next to her.

"You have a nice view," she said.

"Ah, I suppose I do. I never really have time to notice," he said.

"Really, why not," she asked.

He looked at her for a moment and although it was a simple question he realized that she did not realize just how much his life was spent trying to stay ahead of his brothers and becoming the successor of the Ootori business. He knew that he had made her aware of that fact yesterday, but she still didn't understand that aspect of his life completely, and in all honesty he was glad about that fact. During those moments of his thinking it occurred to him that he had not answered her question. He smiled slightly at her and said,

"Well as I mentioned yesterday I am trying to be the successor of my family and by doing so I have to stay busy and try to achieve things that neither of my brothers has achieved."

She looked at him for a moment and realized that his walls were down. He looked tired and actually vulnerable. She thought of a response carefully because she was quite aware that this side of Kyouya was a rarity to see.

"I'm sure that you will be quite successful in achieving your goal, but don't wear yourself out. Remember that sometimes life goes by quicker that way and you may end up looking back at some of the lost time from overworking with regret," she said.

After she said this she chanced a glance over at him half expecting him to have the same reaction to her comment as he did yesterday on their way to his home. But the look he was giving her was one of surprise and there in his eyes was that unknown flicker.

"In a way you are right Haruhi, but even though there may be times that all I want to do is to just read a book I can't afford to let time slip by like that. Time is crucial to my successfulness," he replied.

Haruhi studied him for a moment and noticed that his walls were still down. 'Why is he letting his guard down around me,' she thought.

"I suppose you are right Kyouya," she said.

His eyes widened when he heard her leave the honorific off of his name. Her eyes widened as well when she realized what she had done.

"Uh…I mean Kyouya-senpai," she quickly corrected herself.

He let out a small laugh of amusement much to her surprise.

"Haruhi you don't need to be nervous I'm not going to yell at you just for leaving off the honorific nor add to your debt if that is what you're thinking."

The thought of him adding to her debt never even crossed her mind and then she saw his expression of what seemed to be contentment. She smiled at him and then turned back to look out the window once more. They sat there in silence for a little while and before Haruhi could realize what she was doing she moved herself back a little closer to him and rested herself against his chest. While she was moving back Kyouya was watching her with mild curiosity. When she stopped moving he realized that she was resting up against him. He was more than surprised at her sudden action. He opted not to say anything in fear of Haruhi realizing what she had just done. He kept looking out the window every so often stealing a glance down at Haruhi. She wasn't asleep and yet she wasn't aware what she was doing. That feeling stirred inside of him again that made him wonder what exactly it was. He pushed those thoughts aside and decided to enjoy the moment. Haruhi kept watching the birds flittering about the garden and the gardeners below working. She let out a small sigh of contentment and glanced up at Kyouya only to realize that he was really close to her now. It was then that she realized what she had done. She stayed calm though and really didn't try to move away. She stayed there a little longer just to see if Kyouya noticed what she had done. It seemed to her that he either didn't realize how close she was to him or he did and didn't care. She took this time to study him again from the corner of her eye. 'Well he certainly is goal-oriented, but then again I already knew that. But I'm still wondering why he let his guard down around me. Could it have something to do with that flicker I saw in his eyes this morning,' she thought. A slight movement of Kyouya moving startled her and she jumped slightly away. He looked down at her and he took note of her startled look and couldn't help but smile. She smiled back at him when suddenly she thought, 'Wait he's smiling at me?' She looked at him and said,

"Kyouya-senpai you do realize we've been sitting here for a half hour right?"

"I didn't realize that but it was a nice break. I do see what you mean by taking small breaks can be beneficial," he replied.

"Ah I'm glad that you agree with me and maybe in the future you could learn to take a few in a year," she replied.

"Well maybe a few breaks every two or three years," was his reply

She shook her head and started to stand up to leave. She looked down at him and noted how he seemed for once in his life truly relaxed.

"Remember Kyouya-senpai, life doesn't slow down for anyone," she said and before she could stop herself she leaned down and kissed his cheek. As she started to leave the room she realized what she had just done and began to walk a little quicker out of the room never turning around to see his reaction. If she had turned around she would've noticed that he was still sitting there on the floor in total shock with a slight tinge of pink to his cheeks. He turned and looked at the doorway she had just disappeared through. That odd sensation returned and left Kyouya to sit there for a little while longer to wonder whether this was heading anywhere and if so what exactly was it?

Thank you to those who have reviewed recently! Sorry that it's been so long since the last update but the last few weeks of college have kept me busy but after Thursday my break sort of begins (even though I'm taking 2 summer courses through May & June) I will still find time to update this. Keep reviewing!