Disclaimer: Don't own Ouran.

Chapter 9: The best laid plans of mice and men...

"I'm not wearing that."

"Aww, c'mon Haruhi!"

"No"

"But you'd look so-"

"I said no"

"For Daddy?"

"I swear-"

"What exactly is going on?"

Kaoru and Kyoya stepped into the host club, each with his hands shoved in his pockets as he observed the intriguing scene before him. Honey and Mori's whereabouts were still unknown, leaving only Hikaru, Tamaki, and Haruhi in the host club. Haruhi had a scowl plastered to her face as Hikaru and Tamaki tried to show her a variety of different, extremely risqué, ensembles. Kaoru had an eyebrow raised as he observed the scene, while Kyoya's face held a strangely satisfied smirk.

"Kaoru!" Hikaru looked at his brother with surprise, his eyes glinting with a brotherly happiness upon his sibling's return. "Where did you go before?"

Kaoru avoided his brother's gaze as his face turned slightly pink. When he spoke, though, his voice held the confidence his demeanor lacked. "That's what I need to talk to you about. Well," He glanced at Kyoya, who steadily returned the gaze, "we need to talk to you about."

"'We'?" Hikaru raised an eyebrow.

"Just sit so this can be explained as quickly as possible." Kyoya's voice was slightly icy as he regarded the other occupants of the room. Kaoru turned to him, slightly concerned with the sudden change in demeanor.

"Are you okay?" Kaoru's voice was almost inaudible, but loud enough for Kyoya to hear his question. The raven-haired boy gave a small smile and nodded once. Kaoru's eyebrows furrowed. "Okay..."

Kyoya turned and smiled at Tamaki and Hikaru. "Sit." He said simply. The two obediently found their ways onto small chairs. Haruhi stood awkwardly in the corner, silently wishing she was elsewhere. Kyoya and Kaoru sat on a loveseat that was directly across from where Tamaki and Hikaru were seated.

Hikaru narrowed his eyes in suspicion as he gazed at Kyoya.

"Well, we..." Kaoru started lamely, his voice dying out. His eyes darted from person to person; first to Tamaki's overly-confused features, then to Hikaru's questioning gaze, to Haruhi's expression of uncomfort, and finally to Kyoya's unmoving composure.

"I'll be blunt." Kyoya sighed, pinching the bridge of his nose before adjusting his glasses and locking eyes with Hikaru. "Kaoru and I are involved with each other."

Tamaki laughed. "Kyoya, we're all involved with each other! We're the host club-"

"Romantically, you dimwit." Hikaru hissed at Tamaki, venom dripping from his features as he turned his gaze to Kyoya and Kaoru. "No. You can't."

"You really have no say." Kyoya sat back, crossing his legs and smirking.

"Hikaru, please-"

"No, Kaoru." He silenced his brother with a cold glare before turning back to Kyoya. "You can't. It'll ruin the host club."

"No, it won't."

"It'll affect the sales and turnout." Hikaru's face was in an unmoving scowl as he glared at Kyoya. "They come to see the forbidden love of the twins. Not the love of Kyoya and Kaoru."

"I don't think it'll be all that bad-"

"Don't encourage it!" Hikaru's head snapped to Haruhi, who frowned and turned away.

"It's not going to be an issue," Kyoya adjusted his glasses and looked over the rims at Hikaru, "Because no one outside of the host club will know about it."

Hikaru's face twisted into a disgusted sneer. "So that's it? Kaoru's just your dirty little secret?"

"Hikaru, you know it's not like that-"

"Shut up, Kaoru!" Hikaru stood from his chair and crossed his arms. "If you want to be his little plaything on a rainy day, go ahead! I don't care anymore!"

Kaoru's lips twisted into a grimace. "Fine." His voice was low and filled with resent as he stood from the couch, grabbed Kyoya's hand, and stormed out of the room.

A/N: I'm going to start putting these at the ends of chapters from now on. So, did you expect/anticipate what their reactions would be? Could you tell that Hikaru would react the way he did? If you did or didn't, tell me in the reviews. Remember, reviews are love and my fuel to keep on going! :3

I would also like to apologize for not updating in such a long time...this chapter decided to be as difficult as possible.

Also, check out my new story "Wrath of the Hostesses" if you get a chance to! I would sincerely appreciate it if you guys did. I'm not abandoning this story, but the hostess idea just kind of popped into my head and refused to go away until I wrote it all down. So...

Until we meet again!