At Class 2-A, Kyouya noticed that Tamaki was a little tired. Nonetheless, the King was still courteous to the ladies, as always. He must have acted last night, thought the vice-president as he returned to the novel he was reading. Ayane, his deputy, walked up to him.
"Kyouya, the Chairman wishes to see you."
"Thank you, Ayane." He rose from his seat and slowly strolled out of the classroom.
Outside the Chairman's office, he gave a light knock.
"Come in."
Kyouya opened the door. Suoh Yuzuru was sitting behind his desk. The teen thought that he looked a little too serious to be discussing anything trivial...
"Take a seat, young man. You're going to be here for quite a while." The Chairman was definitely not in one of his lighter moods.
After making himself comfortable, Kyouya looked at his best friend's father. He had a hunch that this conversation would involve a certain cross-dressing host from the Host Club.
"First of all, I must congratulate you for keeping the news that Haruhi's a girl under wraps, despite what had happened at the fountain."
"Thank you, Yuzuru-sama." The chairman then leaned towards the young man before him.
"Kyouya, I think we should have a little game."
"Oh?" This was a surprising twist.
"Did you know that during that fever, Tamaki kissed Haruhi on the forehead?"
Kyouya remembered that illness of his friend's. You only needed one finger to count the number of times where Tamaki was sick.
"And that was after I did the same thing to him."
"A paternal gesture, in direct accordance to his thinking of Haruhi as his daughter." Kyouya nailed the situation instantly. Yuzuru nodded. After hearing news of Tamaki's movements from the staff at the second mansion, he had figured out the same thing.
"Chairman, he's obviously having regrets over this 'father-daughter' line of thought," added the teen.
"Here's where I need your help." The Chairman then put forth his plan. At the end of it, Kyouya couldn't resist a grin.
"A test?"
"Not just for Tamaki," added the chairman. Kyouya nodded. The situation was getting more interesting by the minute...
Much later, at Class 2-A...
Tamaki stretched himself. It had been a long day at school, not to mention that he had had very little sleep the night before. Kyouya walked up to his friend's desk.
"Tamaki, your father wants me to inform you that Haruhi would be going for a student exchange programme in two weeks' time."
It was a while before Tamaki fully realised the meaning of the sentence. Then...
"WHAT? Haruhi's going away?!"
"Just as the Chairman thought. He knew that you would react like this. That's why he wanted me to break the news to you ahead of time." Kyouya pushed up his spectacles.
"But...but..."
"No 'buts', Tamaki. The Chairman feels that an exchange programme with a commoners' school would expose the school population to other sectors of society. In fact, Haruhi would need to prepare for her trip before she leaves. During this time, her host club activities would be suspended." Seeing that Tamaki was still in shock, Kyouya left his friend alone. He had to pick up the girl at her class...
Meanwhile, at Class 1-A...
"Haruhi, I still can't believe that you've been picked for the exchange programme," exclaimed Hikaru. He hated the thought that the girl was going to leave him for a while.
"It's only three weeks, guys, and I don't leave until two weeks from now," replied Haruhi. Despite her words, she was a little worried, for the Chairman had summoned her to his office after Kyouya, and explained to her the situation.
"Haruhi, what are your feelings for Tamaki?" The Chairman's question had remained at the back of her mind ever since the briefing. There was no way she could have backed out of the deal. Yuzuru had dropped another bombshell on her: the plan, if pulled off successfully, would be the first crucial step to establish her true sex for the school community of Ouran...
"Hikaru, the Chairman has no other choice. If he sends anyone else to a commoners' school, imagine what would happen," said Kaoru.
The trio was still chatting among themselves when Otori Kyouya stepped into the classroom.
"Kyouya-senpai, why are you here?" The older twin sounded a little hostile.
"I'm sure you two are already aware of Haruhi's trip. The chairman has placed me in charge of her training. After all, she'll be carrying the image of Ouran on her shoulders. Are you ready to leave, Haruhi?"
"Hai." The girl took her school bag and followed the vice-president out of the room. Hikaru whispered into his brother's ear.
"Something's going on, Kaoru. I knew it."
"Relax, Hikaru. Now, we had better head for the music room. It's getting late."
On the limo, Haruhi felt a little sick. Besides not knowing what was about to happen to herself, the girl's thoughts darted between Tamaki and Hikaru. The Chairman had reminded her of that little peck Tamaki had planted on her forehead. Hikaru, too, was trying hard to convince her that he's the right one. The girl closed her eyes to avoid thinking about the subject...
"Haruhi, we're here," said Kyouya. With the door held open by the chauffeur, Haruhi stepped out of the vehicle, only to realise that she was standing before the gates of...
"St. Lobelia?" The girl instantly turned towards Kyouya, who smiled slyly.
"Follow me." The two Host Club members walked into the compound of the Girls' Academy...
In the club room of the Zuka Club...
"Benibara-sama, two members of the Ouran Host Club are here to see you," reported a member of the club.
"Oh," replied the president, as she placed her tea cup on the table. Her deputies, Maihara Chizuru and Tsuwabuki Hinako, wondered what this visit was about.
"Show them in." Before long, Otori Kyouya and Fujioka Haruhi stood before the three Lobelia girls. Kyouya pushed up his spectacles.
"Although we welcome the otome, we cannot say the same for you, Otori Kyouya." Amakusa Benio picked her words carefully. This particular son of the Otori family was a difficult one to handle.
"Rest assured that I'm not here to pick a fight with the Zuka Club. Haruhi here needs the club's help." Instantly, Chizuru and Hinako grabbed the female host and hugged her tightly.
"What sort of trouble did they cause you this time, otome," asked the vice-president of the Zuka Club.
"Don't worry, we're always here for you!"
"Please let me go," mumbled Haruhi. Her words were lost amongst the giggling of the girls.
"What sort of assistance does the otome require," asked Benio. Kyouya stated his request. The president have a slight frown after he was done, although she was secretly delighted at the request.
"Why the sudden change of heart, Kyouya-kun?"
"Our chairman's been a little concerned about her... mistaken identity among the school population of Ouran High. He hopes that this problem could be rectified."
"You can count on us. By the end of her training, we'll present a new Fujioka Haruhi to Ouran High."
"I look forward to your success, Amakusa-san. I now leave her under your care." He turned his attention towards Haruhi.
"Haruhi, call this number after you're done. Someone will send you back to your apartment." He handed her a namecard belonging to one of his many drivers.
"Oh, and one more thing. The success of the whole plan depends on you." With that, he left Haruhi with the Zuka Club girls. As for the outcome of all this, not even he, the Shadow King, could anticipate what would happen next...
Afterthoughts
-Please RnR!
-I know I've been away for a long while. Sorry for the wait!