Chapter 4

It has been about two weeks since Haruhi had been forced to be the host club's dog. Haruhi really wishes that the Egyptian vase had never broken. She has to do many chores, and whatever else the host club tells her to do. She doesn't mind chores in general since she does them at home, but for rich people? Not that nice and easy. Sometimes she will even get timed, and if she's to slow or does something wrong, then she has to go back and start over.

Haruhi wipes her forehead in relief, for the host club was done for the week and she can relax a little bit. She was just about to leave the room to go home, when she feels an arm around her shoulder. It comes as a surprise to her that there's only one arm around her shoulder instead of two.

"Hey Haruhi, can I talk to you for a minute?" a certain twin questions her.

"Sure Hikaru, what is it?" she asks the twin who she can identify on her own.

Hikaru turns to face her. "Umm... What are you doing tonight?" he asks while rubbing the back of his neck.

"Oh, just some laundry and homework," Haruhi replies, thinking nothing of the question.

"Would you like to go see a movie and go out to dinner with me?" he asks, still rubbing his neck.

Haruhi opens her mouth to answer, but gets interrupted. "Sorry Hikaru, but my father is hosting a charity ball tonight, and would like Haruhi to accompany me," Kyoya responds, still typing away on his laptop, not even sparing a glance at the two friends.

Haruhi is outraged. "You never told me that! I'm not going to go with you!" she exclaims, glaring daggers at the boy behind the laptop.

"your father knows about it, he'll make you go. I will also reduce your debt one third," he pauses, closing his laptop. "The limo will arrive at your apartment at 8 o'clock sharp, be ready," he walks out of the door.

"Argh! He is such a jerk!" Haruhi growls. She turns to look at Hikaru. "I'm sorry Hikaru, it appears that I can't tonight," she frowns. "But maybe some other time," Haruhi smiles up at him.

A shrinking sensation happens in Hikaru's chest, and is filled with a dull ache. He knows that there is no winning when you're up against the Shadow King. "Yeah, some other time," he smiles back at her.

"See you on Monday," Haruhi waves, and leaves the room.

As the door closes behind Haruhi, Kaoru comes out from the back room. "Struck out, huh?" he comments to his brother.

"Nah, I'd say that was just a foul ball," Hikaru grins.

"If you ask me, it kind of seemed as though Kyoya was a bit... Jealous," Kaoru remarks.

At the Ootori mansion, Kyoya is trying to do his homework at his desk. "Why, why did I feel like punching Hikaru when he asked Haruhi out? I don't even like her... Do I? No, I can't! I despise her, she's my enemy! But then, why?" Kyoya mumbles to himself, with his elbow propped up and his hand clenching his hair.

Ever since that first day, it feels as if someone had punch Kyoya in the stomach, it's hard to regain his breath, and his pulse also speeds up. When he read that poem that Haruhi wrote, it hit close to home, it's as if she wrote it about him. He can't show that he's starting to care for her though, they are supposed to be enemies.

Kyoya sighs, closing his physics textbook. It's pointless to keep staring at it while he's so distracted. His father's charity ball is in a couple hours, so he decides to take a shower and start getting ready.

When Haruhi arrives back home, she notices that her father has already left for work. "Good thing dad isn't home, he'd end up making me look like a barbie," Haruhi says out loud to herself.

As she walks into the living room, she notices a large box on the couch with a note on top of it.

"Haruhi, here's what you need for tonight. Please wear it, it's important to look nice for this event. If you don't wear it, then it will be added onto your debt." -Kyoya.

She sighs, going to balls isn't Haruhi's idea of fun. She opens the large box, a quiet gasp escapes her mouth. In the box is a strapless formal light pink dress, with matching pink flats that have sparkles on them. Haruhi picks up the dress and places it in front of her body. She walks to the body length mirror, to see how it'd look on her without trying it on. It's beautiful, and it goes well with her skin tone.

Haruhi looks to see what time it is. Just a couple more hours until Kyoya's driver is supposed to pick her up. She decides to do more studying before she gets ready, it won't take very long to get ready to go out.

Time flies by, as Haruhi studies. Noticing that she has just under an hour to get ready, she quickly jumps into the shower. After her shower, Haruhi blow dries her hair and puts on the dress that Kyoya had given her. She glances at the make-up, but she has never been the one to wear any, so she decides against it.

Haruhi was just leaving her bedroom, when she hears a knock on the front door. She slips on her new pink flats, and opens the door.

Kyoya Ootori, the third son of Yoshio Ootori; one of the many wealthiest and successful men in Japan, was standing on Haruhi's front porch. Kyoya looks stunningly handsome and dashing in his black tuxedo. His dark mysterious eyes are still hiden behind his square shaped spectacles.

As a light breeze reaches them, Kyoya's hair flies just above his eyes. Haruhi is mesmerized by the scene displayed in front of her. She doesn't notice that she has zoned out on him, until Kyoya snaps his fingers in front of her face.

"Sorry, what did you say?" Haruhi asks, snapping back to attention.

A smirk was threatening to play on Kyoya's lips, but he restrains himself. "We should get going to the ball," he replies as if he doesn't want to attend to it. But in truth, he finds himself quite happy and satisfied that Haruhi is accompanying him. She looks quite lovely and exquisite in the dress that he had picked out for her.

As they arrive at the Ootori Group's building, the driver opens Kyoya's door. When Kyoya gets out of the limo, he turns back around and extends his hand out to Haruhi. She timidly takes his hand, allowing him to help her out of the car. 'Rich bastard,' Haruhi thinks to herself. Once she was on her feet, Haruhi tries to take her hand back from Kyoya. But instead of letting go, he places her hand on his torso and begin to walk to the ball room. Haruhi is surprised at his gentlemanly actions, but goes along with it.

The ball room is large, extravagant, and of course full of rich people in elegant clothing. By the dresses and accessories that the women are wearing, anyone could tell that they are loaded.

As they walk further into the room, they are greeted by the elder Ootori. "Kyoya," he acknowledges his son.

"Father."

"Good evening Haruhi, it's nice to see you again," Yoshio Ootori tells her.

"It's nice to see you, too," Haruhi lies, smiling. The smile she's wearing masking her dislike for the older man.

"You look lovely, looking more like your mother every time I see you," he comments. "Oh look at the time, I should start my speech," he turns and walks away.

A waiter offers the two a glass of white wine. Kyoya takes a glass from the tray. Haruhi hesitates for a moment, then takes the other glass.

Everyone goes silent as a light tapping on glass fills the room. Yoshio Ootori is standing at the front of the room, tapping his wine glass. As the room goes dead quiet, he begins his quick speech. "Welcome friends, I appreciate that all of you were able to attend tonight. As you know, this is a charity to build a medical clinic in Africa. Any kind of donation is welcomed and appreciated. Enjoy the party," he raises his glass, takes a sip, and walks back into the crowd.

As a soft music fills the room, Kyoya takes both his and Haruhi's untouched wine, and set it on a near by table. He turns to Haruhi, slightly bowing with his hand outstretched to her. "May I have this dance?" he asks in a soft tone.

Haruhi hesitates for a minute, shocked at how nice he has been lately. He actually seems like he wants to dance, with her of all the people who are there. "Yes, you may," she accepts, placing her hand gently in his. He did, after all, bought her the beautiful gown that she is wearing. It's the least that she could do.

Kyoya leads Haruhi onto the dance floor. He keeps his hand in hers, and places his other hand gently on the small of her back. When Haruhi places her hand softly on his shoulder, he's shoulder underneath her hand starts to tingle.

They start to waltz. They both dance gracefully. Since she is a commoner, Kyoya didn't think that Haruhi would know how to dance very well. He wanted to help teach her, but that is out of the equation now. "I didn't know you could dance," he comments.

"It's quite easy. All I have to do is follow you. I also used to dance with my dad when I was younger," Haruhi replies, smiling at the memories. She is quite surprised that she is actually enjoying her time here. "I used to always try to lead, but my dad wouldn't let me," she laughs. "What about you Kyoya? Did you used to dance with your mother?"

There were a few moments of silence between the two. "No, I was to young to learn before she passed," he confides in a low voice. "I started taking lessons when I was eight."

"I'm sorry," Haruhi sadly appologizes.

"It's fine," he smiles at her. "It's in the past now, no point in dwelling on it."

They dance for a little while longer. When the music changes tempo, they stop. "Thanks for the dance," Haruhi smiles.

"It was a pleasure," Kyoya pauses, looking towards the door. "Would you like to take a walk in the garden?" he asks, turning back to her.

Her face lights up. "Yes, that would be nice," Haruhi answers, beaming. She automatically places her hand back on Kyoya's torso, to lead her outside.

Neither Kyoya or Haruhi knew that the elder Ootori was watching them. Although Kyoya hadn't caught his father watching them, he had a suspicion that the older man would. 'Mhm, seems like he's making progress,' Yoshio thought to himself.

In the garden, Haruhi prances excitedly, smelling most of the beautiful flowers. "They're so beautiful," she says out loud, mostly to herself.

"Yeah, they are," Kyoya replies. He notices how the moon casts a faint glow on her face, making her more beautiful to him.

Kyoya looks at his silver watch. It's almost midnight. He takes Haruhi's hand to keep her from dawdling. She looks at him questioningly. "It's getting late, I should get you home," he tells her.

Just before unlocking her apartment door, she looks up at Kyoya. "Thanks for inviting me, I actually had fun."

The moment she admitted that she had fun with him, made his heart stutter. "No problem, thanks for entertaining me," he leans in and kisses her cheek.

Before she could question his actions, he was already down the stairs climbing into his limo. She touches her kissed cheek that is now tingling. 'His lips... They were so soft.' she stands there on her porch for a few more minutes, then goes into her home. She wouldn't forget this event, that Kyoya Ootori was as nice as he looked.