Disclaimer: Again, no ownership here.
The next day...
"Father, you wished to see me," asked Suoh Tamaki as he stepped into the Chairman's room. The older man nodded.
"I want to discuss with you Fujioka's future in Ouran."
"Father, Haruhi..." The boy was cut off mid-sentence.
"This is not about the kissing incident at the fountain. My son, your grandmother has made her demands known."
"What does she want?" Tamaki had absolutely no idea what his grandmother would demand from him.
"She will accept you as a heir, if you close the host club, and stop seeing Fujioka." Yuzuru saw no reason to mince his words.
"What?" Despite the single word response, the boy was finding it difficult to breathe by the second. Closing the host club was one thing, but... not being able to see Haruhi? That was...
"You might want to take a seat and calm down first." The father realised that his words had hit home. Tamaki took the offer without another word.
"...When do I have to decide?"
"I've managed to defer Fujioka's leaving to after her return from the exchange programme. However, you would have to decide on the host club now." Yuzuru's mind drifted back to the conversation he had with the Chairwoman earlier in the morning.
'You would throw a student out of Ouran for no good reason?'
'Her behaviour of late has been ...questionable. Besides, this is merely a transfer. A transfer to a prestigious overseas academy.'
'I thought better of you, Mother. I would never have thought that the chairwoman of the Suoh empire would feel threatened by a commoner girl.'
'Watch your tongue, young man... Very well, I will allow Tamaki to make his decision regarding her later. But, my patience is limited.'
Limited patience, eh? You are not the only one, Mother...
"Oto-sama, the host club will be closed with immediate effect." Tamaki's firm tone brought his father back to Earth.
"You have made your choice, my son."
"I'll inform Kyouya." The son then got up from his seat and headed for the door, but the father did not miss the fact that the steps were getting heavier and heavier...
After the end of school, on the corridor to the Third Music Room...
"Hikaru, there seems to be a crowd gathering outside the music room."
"Yeah, Kaoru. Let's go take a look." As the twins pulled ahead, Haruhi wondered what the commotion was all about. She was again worried that another visit to the host club would be problematic. But the twins insisted that "Sayuri-chan" came along with them.
"Look, the twins are here," exclaimed Renge. Instantly, the crowd surrounded the pair.
"Say, ladies. You all looked awfully worried. What is going on?"
"Hikaru-kun, the notice on the door..." began one regular.
"Notice?" By then, Haruhi, who had not been trapped by the mob, was already in front of it. She began reading out loud.
"The Host Club... will be closed until further notice due to unforseen circumstances?"
"NANI," exclaimed the twins. Just then, Kyouya approached the group.
"I'm sorry, but the host club is closed today. Please, no further questions." The raven-haired teen made his announcement short and sweet. Paying no heed to the girls' queries, he then gestured for the twins to follow him. Forgetting herself, Haruhi nearly followed as well. Just then, her handphone rang. It was a message.
"The Chairman would like to meet you at his office immediately." The number was unknown to her. But, somehow, she didn't think that this was a prank...
Compared to the bustle outside the music room, the Chairman's office was mercifully quiet. However, Haruhi could feel it. The Chairman had news which would be as big as the closure of the host club. She wasn't disappointed.
"Fujioka, how does studying overseas sound to you?"
"Chairman, why are you..." Haruhi stopped as she saw his expression.
"Tamaki's grandmother has accepted him as a heir. However, she had some conditions." Yuzuru paused to let his words sink in. It didn't take Haruhi too long to work out the implications.
"So, that's why the host club was closed. But, what does that got to do with..." There was now a distinct look of horror on the girl's face, as she put in another piece of the jigsaw. The Chairman nodded.
"Apparently, my mother doesn't like the fact that Tamaki's seeing you."
"... Chairman, all I wanted was to get into a college to pursue my goal of becoming a lawyer, like my mother. How did it all come to this?" Her tears began to flow at the thought of losing her friends at the Host Club. Despite her snarking at just about every member of the club, deep down, she knew that she cared for them, and vice versa. They have opened her eyes to new things, and despite her grouses, she was grateful...
Haruhi felt a firm hand on her shoulder. She looked up, to see a resolved look on the Chairman.
"Don't worry. I'll think of something." Just then, the telephone in the office rang.
"Moshi moshi?"
"Suoh, it's me."
"Otori? I hope that this call of yours brings good news." 'Otori? Could it be Kyouya-senpai's father,' thought Haruhi.
"It does, old friend. Asclepius has descended."
"Is that so? Your timing could not be better."
"With that, I take my leave." The line went dead.
After replacing the handset, the Chairman turned towards his guest. He didn't mind that she had listened in on him. No, he actually WANTED her to do so. It was time to kick his plan into high gear.
"Fujioka, you may leave now. Dry your tears." The Chairman's tone was gentle.
Haruhi took a bow before leaving the office. As she wiped off her tears, the phone call weighed on her mind. Perhaps, she should discuss this with Kyouya-senpai...
At the Otori residence...
Kyouya looked before him. The rest of the boys were in his room. The twins were agitated, Hani tugged at Usa-chan with unease, and Mori looked unusually grave. He then turned towards Tamaki.
"Tamaki, they are all here." The prince then stepped forward.
"Fellows, the Host Club is hereby disbanded."
"Tono..." The twins' voices were now dangerously polite. If this was a joke, they would have Tamaki's hide.
"My grandmother has accepted me as a heir, and this is part of the price." Gasps were heard from everyone, except Mori and Kyouya. The giant merely stroked his chin, while the deputy pushed up his glasses.
"But, Tono, what about Haruhi," exclaimed the twins in unison.
"Tamaki, I heard you say 'part of the price'. Mind telling us what the other parts are?" As always, Mori was on another train of thought.
"Tama-chan, does it have anything to do with Haruhi?" The train had another passenger on board. Tamaki nodded. In an instant, Hikaru grabbed onto Tamaki's collar, while Hani wished that he had kept his mouth shut.
"Hikaru, knock it off!" Kyouya was beginning to lose his cool as well. With some effort, he managed to separate the pair.
"If Haruhi has to leave us because of you, I swear I'll make you pay for it." With that, Hikaru stomped out of the room. Kaoru too gave his tono an icy glare before following suit. The older boys looked at each other. This time, the host club is in really big trouble...
Just then, Kyouya's cellphone rang.
"Moshi moshi?"
"Kyouya-senpai, it's me."
"What do you want?" Kyouya hoped that his acting was enough.
"I need to tell you something."
"Roger. I'm a bit busy now. We'll talk later." With that, he hung up.
"Hani-senpai, Mori-senpai..."
"You go ahead, Kyouya. Hani and I will stay here with Tamaki."
On the way to the car, the Shadow King received a message from his caller. It read, "Let's meet at the Music Room." Good thing he was still holding onto the key...
Outside the Music Room...
Haruhi paced up and down. By now, the area was deserted as the customers realised that the notice was no joke. The wait was killing her...
"I'm here," announced Kyouya. As he unlocked the door to the Music Room, Haruhi thought that he looked unusually grim. After locking the door behind them, Kyouya turned towards the girl.
"Haruhi, what had the Chairman told you?"
"... I am to transfer to another school overseas, if Tamaki-senpai is to be accepted as a heir." Kyouya held his tongue. If he didn't, he was sure that he would let loose some colourful swearing.
"But, Kyouya-senpai, that's not the main reason why I want to see you."
"Then, what is it?" Now, this was something else.
"During my meeting with the Chairman, he took a call. He addressed the caller as 'Otori', so I thought..."
"Otosan?" Kyouya knew that the two men were like him and Tamaki. His father may put profits above all, but he will help Yuzuru-sama along the way. So, what was the Chairman's game plan. He was determined to find out.
"Haruhi, thanks for the information. If there is nothing else, I'll get someone to send you to the guesthouse."
"...How is Tamaki-senpai?" Her voice was soft and full of worry.
"...He's holding up better than I expected. Hani-senpai and Mori-senpai are with him."
"...Arigato."
"Be strong, Haruhi. I am willing to bet my last dime that the Chairman will get us out of this, and I am going to find out how."