Dinner was awkward.

At 6:15 I had made my way down in the elevator and found my way to the kitchen. Kaori was already there, finishing up the cooking while her mother was upstairs cleaning up Hideaki. I had passed Manami, lounged on the couch, on my way in. After helping Kaori drain some water and finally finding where they kept their China, I set the table like the maids did at home. First I laid out a white, lacey tablecloth with light pink placemats. Then I put out the plates and silverware in the proper, social-affair manner. Once I had made sure everything was perfect, I took a vase out of the cabinet and took some flowers from the garden out back.

When Kaori had turned around and looked at the table, I couldn't tell how she felt about it. Her eyes were wide and her mouth was open. But eventually, she shook her head and smiled at me. Then she called everybody in, and the family took their normal spots at the table.

This took up all the chairs.

That left me awkwardly squatting next to Kaori, where my chin could easily have rested on the table. Everybody seemed reluctant to be the first to speak. It was Hideaki who finally, thankfully, broke the silence.

Although his question couldn't have been worse.

"So Kaoru, why were you out all alone in the market? Don't you have a family?"

I gulped, "Um, yes I have a family…but my parents are in America at the moment and…" I tried to think of some reason I wasn't with my brother, "My brother is, um, my brother is…at a friend's house. Yeah, and he accidentally took the key with him. So I was looking for a hotel when I came across the market." Yeah, that had sounded pretty believable.

"Why didn't you just knock on your door? You have plenty of maids and servants, right?" Manami scowled, "What I mean is that they could have let you in."

I glared at her across the table, "Actually, Manami, I only have two maids, and one cook. And they're only to keep my brother and me company."

"That doesn't answer me. They still could have let you in."

I had to think of something. Fast. "No, as a matter of fact, one of my maids was sick. The other maid is her twin. They happen to be at the hospital right now. And as for my cook, he is busy at a banquet in Tokyo. So, no they couldn't have let me in."

She frowned, "And what, you don't have a spare key or something?"

That's where she got me. I had no idea what to say back. Thankfully, that's also where her mother, Aiko, stepped in, pulling her out into the living room. Kaori, Hideaki, and I had been able to hear only faint mumbles through the large, solid walls and kitchen door.

Then the door opened, and to my ultimate dismay, there stood Haruhi.

And that's where I stand now, ducked behind Kaori, after just hearing Haruhi's surprised, "Kaoru?"

She walked around the table and looked down at me. "Kaoru! Kaoru, Kaoru, Kaoru! I can't believe it's you! We've been looking everywhere for you! I thought I heard your voice!" Then she kneeled down and hugged me tight enough to pop a lung, until, of course, I pushed her away.

Her big brown eyes stared sadly at me. "Is there something wrong Kaoru?"

I glared at her, remembering what I had read in Hikaru's not-so-secret journal when she had first arrived at Ouran Academy.

Today I saw someone who must be the prettiest little thing on the planet. Her name is Haruhi Fujioka, and she's in my class.

Even before I knew she was a girl, she still made a very beautiful boy. I would have gladly and happily gone to "their" side. But now I don't have to, because Haruhi is a woman. And even better, the guests at the Host Club like her so much, she's going to be the new edition to our membership. Now it will be so much easier to go after her, and I get to see her practically every day.

She has the prettiest brown eyes, the cutest smile, and her hair really fits her. And even though Tamaki has his obvious eyes on her, I think I can win her over.

But I'm not sure what this will do to Kaoru's and my act in the Host Club. Oh well, I bet it will work out just fine.

Love struck and Hopeful, Hikaru Hitachiin

I remembered how horrible and beaten down I'd felt after that. First of all, it was a hard shove into the reality outside our 'act' in the Host Club. Hikaru wasn't gay. But he would have been, for Haruhi. Second, he was actually prepared to fight the Boss for her. And third, the most crushing thing of all, he didn't want me.

Haruhi tapped me again, "Kaoru, what's the matter?"

I jumped, "Nothing, nothing's the matter, I just…" A knock at the door cut me off, and Kaori jumped up and peered out the window.

Her eyes were wide when she turned to us, "It's the police! W-what do I do?"

Haruhi looked oddly hopeful, "The police? Open the door, open the door! It might be Kyouya!"

Crap. Haruhi was hoping it was Kyouya's police force. They must have been looking for me. And now, Kaori was about to open the door.

I dove under the kitchen counter and shoved various cleaners and sprays out of the way, crawling to the very back and peering through a crack in the door. Kaori brushed down her shirt and opened the door, "Can I help you Sir?"

A man with a large white beard and a mustache answered from the side of the door, "We are looking for one of the Hitachiin twins. Kaoru, to be specific." The man took out my picture and showed it to Kaori, who nonchalantly glanced back at me, frantically shaking my head and thinking no, no, NO!

Then just before Haruhi blurted out my location, Kaori secretly elbowed her in the ribs. "No sir, I haven't seen him. But I'll be sure to call if I do." she smiled and gently shut the door. Then, she sprinted to the window and, after waving to the police, calmly shut the blinds. Then she turned on me, "Kaoru! Why in the world are the police looking for you!?"

I guiltily slid out from under the counter, and seeing her accusing face, instantly sputtered, "It's not what you think!" without even thinking. That was as cliché as it gets. Then I saw Haruhi's questioning look.

"You weren't kidnapped?" she asked, "You left on your own?"

"Um, well…" I wasn't entirely sure where to begin. Then I remembered that Hideaki was still sitting in the room. When I looked at him, he was in absolute shock, completely confused by everything that had just happened. Kaori followed my gaze and frowned.

"Hideaki, if Mama hears one word of this from you, I will personally drop-kick you off the roof. Now go to your room, and tell Mama not to come into the kitchen."

He nodded his head and obeyed without complaint. After he left, Kaori locked the kitchen door and sat down at the end of the table. "So, Kaoru, Haruhi and I would like to know what this is all about." Haruhi nodded and sat down next to her.

I gulped, wondering just how stupid my story would actually sound.

AUTHORS NOTES

That's why you never, ever, forget that you're wanted by the police. Ever.

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