The next day, Haruhi tried to get to the Host Club early. She wanted to talk to Kyouya alone and ask him about that kiss. This was starting to feel more like it wasn't a business arrangement and more like it was real...a real relationship. She needed to know what was going on. If he just wanted to appease his father, he certainly didn't have to kiss her. When she reached the door to Music Room #3, she heard Tamaki's voice, loud and thundering, behind it.

"You are trying to steal her away from me!"

Kyouya was much more calm, eerily so. "I am doing no such thing. Besides, you don't own her."

"And you do?"

Haruhi heard Kyouya sigh and could picture in her mind that he was pinching the bridge of his nose behind the door. "This is a ridiculous, pointless argument that I refuse to participate in."

Haruhi opened the door a crack to peer inside. All of the members of the host club were there. Hikaru and Kaoru leaned on each other on the couch as they watched. Honey and Mori were at a table eating. The President and Vice President, Father and Mother, stood facing each other in the middle of the room. Kyouya held his book in one hand, his arms crossed. Tamaki had balled fists and looked like he was ready to punch Kyouya.

"You are trying to break up the Host Club!" Tamaki accused the spectacled man in front of him.

"Do you listen to yourself talk?"

Haruhi came in to sit beside the twins. She looked to them and asked, "What are they arguing about?"

"You." Hikaru commented.

"Me? Why? What did I do?" Haruhi gasped and looked towards the argument again.

"The Boss thinks that you two are spending an abnormal amount of time together. He thinks that you and Kyouya are seeing each other."

Haruhi slapped a hand to her face. "Oh great."

"Which totally isn't true. You and Kyouya-that's insane. Right, Haruhi?" Kaoru remarked. When she didn't answer right away, both twins slowly looked at her and asked in unison, "Right, Haruhi?"

"No, we aren't seeing each other. Not exactly."

Identical faces were in hers. One voice came out of two mouths. "What do you mean not exactly?"

There was suddenly complete silence in the room. All actions froze and faces turned to Haruhi. Tamaki's face was the one that caught Haruhi's eyes. He looked so forlorn, so heartbroken. He was even shaking. Haruhi's own heart fell for him in that instance. She wanted to go to him, hug him, and reassure him though she didn't know exactly what she would say. Even his voice sounded broken. "Yes, Haruhi, explain what you mean by not exactly."

Kyouya crossed his arms again and simply waited to hear Haruhi's explanation.

"We've been out a few times, I guess." Haruhi was struggling with words. She couldn't think of a way to say it that wouldn't make the other guys act like lunatics. She hadn't thought anything of the dates before, not until that kiss. Now with that kiss it seemed things were crashing down around her. Before it would so much easier to deal with. She could explain it contractually, but now she was beginning to think it was more than that. "It's really only because our fathers thought up this arranged marriage..."

"You are engaged?" Tamaki's eyes widened again and then he lost all color and drained to the floor. The twins looked equally horrified as they turned their heads from Haruhi to Kyouya and then back again.

Kyouya further explained. "Not officially-mostly because Haruhi is withholding her decision."

"What?" Tamaki was off the floor now and his face held a mixture of hurt, betrayal, and anger.

"Kyouya...ugh!" Haruhi groaned in exasperation at Kyouya. He wasn't making things easier. "Tamaki-senpai, it's not what you think. Our fathers arranged this, not Kyouya and I."

Kyouya voiced. "She's right, Tamaki. We officially had no part in the planning." When he looked at Tamaki, Haruhi thought she saw compassion hit his dark eyes. She understood now why Kyouya was being so withholding and secretive. It was because of Tamaki. He didn't want to hurt him.

Tamaki let out a breath and gathered himself. Kyouya looked to his friend with silent worry. Tamaki couldn't meet Kyouya's eyes. "Then Haruhi can say no and we can all go on with our lives happily."

"I'm not necessarily going to say no, Senpai." Haruhi interjected. Surprised eyes all focused upon hers. Kyouya's head tilted and the light glared on the lenses so that she could not see his expression. "But I'm not necessarily going to say yes, either. This is a big decision that doesn't just affect me. There's a lot I have to think about that doesn't involve money or anything that the contract says."

"Contract?" Hikaru and Kaoru looked at each other. "There's a contract?"

Haruhi rose from the couch and walked over to Kyouya. The pain upon Tamaki's face was unmistakable, and his eyes widened as he saw her approach Kyouya. He couldn't believe what he was seeing, what he was too blind, too self absorbed to see before. His heart pounded in his chest.

Haruhi spoke. "No matter how practical you can put it, the fact is that we are not business partners. We are friends. You are one of my best friends and I don't want to lose that. I also don't want things to change within the Host Club."

"Then the solution is simple. You say no." Tamaki interrupted desperately.

Haruhi looked at Tamaki. "With all due respect, Senpai, your opinion isn't a factor in my decision."

Only Honey and Mori caught Kyouya's smile just then. Tamaki frowned and then glared at Kyouya which got just as vile an expression in return.

"Isn't there some host clubbing we need to be doing?" Kaoru voiced desperately, not wanting this to go further. He hated them being at odds like this.

"Kaoru is right. We have guests waiting." Kyouya agreed.

Tamaki fixed his evil glare upon Kyouya. "You are supposed to be my best friend." He muttered before he stepped out to greet the guests. The others followed, leaving Kyouya standing there. His eyes closed helplessly.

"Haruhi."

At the sound of Kyouya's voice, Haruhi stopped. "Yes, Kyouya-senpai?"

"I just wanted to make clear that whatever your decision, whether it is yes or no, will not change my feelings."

Haruhi nodded. "Thanks, senpai. I needed to hear that."