Author's Note: I own nuffing!

Please, read, review, and I hope you enjoy the next few chapters, while I dig myself out of the plot hole I've put myself in. If I can make it to the Garden Party, we're in the clear. Until then, I apologize for these next few chapters.

Haruhi and an Ootori

Chapter 4

To Kyoya: I am sending Haruhi to pick you up for a Host Club meeting. Try flirting with her. At the meeting, Kaoru will distract Haruhi. The rest of us want to have a little talk with you! -Tamaki

The limo ride to the Suoh estate had been spent in complete silence. When Kyoya and Haruhi arrived, they were immediately pulled apart. Mori picked up Kyoya and promptly carried him off, Tamaki, Hikaru, and Honey trailing behind.

Kaoru, meanwhile, dragged Haruhi off to the gardens. After walking for a little bit, Haruhi finally got tired of the silence and decided to say something. Surely the hosts hadn't dragged her out of bed so early in the morning for no good reason.

Then again . . . It was the Host Club.

"So, Kaoru, is there a reason we're out here while the other guys are in there?"

Kaoru sighed and stopped in his tracks. He looked into Haruhi's eyes for a few seconds before seeming to settle on a decision. Kaoru slipped his hand into Haruhi's before pulling her over to a nearby bench.

"Haruhi, why did you agree to go to the Garden Party with Aktio-san?"

Haruhi was a little surprised that Kaoru was asking her this. But then, she had always talked to Kaoru. He had been her best friend since their second year of high school, although she'd never admit as much to Hikaru.

"Akito-san, from what I know of him, is a nice guy. I had fun with him the other night. He's easy to be around. I mean, he's crazy smart, he's funny, and I think what I like most about him is that he's normal."

Kaoru gave Haruhi a funny little look. "You just called one of the most powerful men in the world, a man who has also been voted one of the top bachelors in Japan, 'normal.' I'm sorry, Haruhi, but I don't think I follow your train of thought."

She couldn't help but smile a little. "I don't mean normal like me," she said.

Haruhi, you are most definitely not normal, Kaoru thought.

"I mean, compared to the Host Club, and the other kids at Ouran Academy. He doesn't remind me that I'm a commoner every other second, or flash his money in my face. Don't get me wrong, I love you guys, but Akito-san's just . . . more level-headed, I guess."

"So you're going to the Garden Party with Kyoya's older brother because he's level-headed."

"Hn, that's not all," Haruhi said in a small voice. "The Garden Party is a week away, and none of you had asked me. It's my favorite event of the year, the only social event I really like. I don't get to go unless I get asked."

A bit of Kaoru's temper was rising now. "So you're only going out with the guy because you want to go to a fancy party? Oh sure, never mind how Kyoya feels about it, as long as you get to go to the social event of the year!"

"Kaoru!" Haruhi exclaimed, surprised at his outburst. "You know I would never do anything like that! I do like Aktio-san, and it's one date! Besides, I asked Kyoya, and he said there's no reason for it to bother him."

"He said what?"

"Kyoya said it's none of his business who I date, even if he doesn't get along with his brother."

"Uh huh. And how do you feel about that, Haru-chan?" Kaoru asked, his temper evaporating as he looked, really looked, at Haruhi.

Her shoulders were slumped forward ever so slightly, as if she was fighting to keep herself upright. There were dark circles under her eyes, although it looked like she had tried to cover them up with makeup. I'll have to teach her proper application techniques soon, if this keeps up. Her hair, which she usually kept fairly neat ever since Tamaki had called in his hair dresser the first day Haruhi joined the Host Club, was twisting wildly every which way. It wasn't a bad look, but it wasn't Haruhi. And her clothes . . . those would have to be fixed, and soon. They were so out of style!

"Why doesn't he care, Kaoru?" Haruhi whispered, her eyes growing wide and wet with tears.

"Oh, Haruhi," Kaoru murmured, pulling her close to him. "You know, I never told anyone, not even Hikaru, when you told me . . . you know, how you . . . ahem, had that crush on Kyoya in high school. And I don't plan to tell anyone. But if you still like Kyoya, then why are you doing this?"

Haruhi brought her knees to her chest as she leaned into Kaoru's chest. "Kaoru, it doesn't matter whether or not I like Kyoya, or how much I like him, or how I feel about him at all, really. It doesn't matter because Kyoya doesn't see me that way at all. I'm his friend, and I'm okay with that. And Akito-san, I may not know him very well yet, but I'm willing to give him a chance."

Kaoru studied his best friend carefully. She did not need to be berated anymore. So, he went for the Hitachiin approach to cheer her up. "If you say so. I guess it makes sense. You had a thing for Kyoya, now you have a thing for his older brother. I guess they do look kind of similar. Although, I always thought it was the glasses that turned you on, Haru-chan," Kaoru said with a grin reminiscent of Bellatrix Lestrange.

"Oh, shut up," Haurhi countered, shoving him. But it had worked, there was a small smile on her lips, and her eyes had just a bit of a spark to them. "And I'm not looking to date Akito-san because he's a Kyoya substitute. I'm going out with him because I like him for who he is, regardless of his relation to Kyoya. You should know better than anyone, Kaoru, that I care about people on an individual basis more than anything else."

"Yeah, I know, I know. I just think it's a little weird is all. I'm also not entirely sure I believe that Kyoya isn't bothered by the fact that you're dating his older brother."

Haurhi shrugged her shoulders and stood up. "I don't know. Why would it bother him? He's already proven he can surpass his brothers. He's going to be sole heir to the Ootori zaibatsu. What does he need me for?" Haruhi said, not without a hint of contrition in her voice.

Kaoru watched as Haruhi began to walk back towards the house.

"He needs you more than you think, Haruhi," Kaoru whispered to her retreating figure. "You just both need to realize it."

"Mori, while this has been an interesting change of pace, I would greatly appreciate it if you would put me down, please." Mori dropped Kyoya in a chair, although not very gently. "Thank you," Kyoya said, adjusting his glasses. "Now, what exactly is this about?"

"Kyo-chan, why are you letting Akito-san take Haruhis to the Garden Party?" Honey began. "I thought you were going to ask her?"

"Haruhi and I have gone together every year for the past five years. Apparently, she did not understand the arrangement to be the same commitment I did, and accepted my brother's offer when he asked."

"Oh, come on, Kyoya, don't pretend you're okay with this!" Tamaki protested Kyoya's nonchalant attitude.

"On the contrary, Tamaki, why would it bother me?"

"Hold it right there, Kyoya," Hikaru demanded, waving his finger at him. "Are you telling me that you weren't the least bit bothered by the sight of Akito-san shoving his tongue down Haurhi's throat?"

Kyoya was instantly slammed with memories from the night of the ball—Akito's hands in Haruhi's hair, Akito's lips on Haruhi's, Akito's fingers trailing along her waist. And Haruhi pulling Akito closer.

He had been somewhat successful in ignoring the image of the two of them kissing, a sight which seemed to be permanently grained in his mind, until Hikaru had brought it up again.

"I have no control over what Haurhi does or the people she chooses to associate with in her life," Kyoya answered simply, checking his temper.

"Kyoya," Tamaki practically whispered. "If you don't act soon, you may lose her forever. She's twenty-four, she's just landed her dream job . . . it's not unlikely that she'd be looking for the man she wants spend the rest of her life with. Would you really be okay if Haruhi married Akito-san someday?"

The answer was instantaneous: "No," Kyoya said. "In all honesty, I would not be okay with it. But Haruhi is free to make her own choices."

"Since when?" Hikaru interjected. "You're the Shadow King, master of manipulation. You're seriously going to stand by while Haruhi, the most amazing girl in the world, runs off into the sunset with your brother? You're not going to try to sway her at all?"

"No."

"Damn you, Ootori! If I had known that, I never would have given her up when Kaoru told me she had a crush on you!"

The room fell completely silent. Four pairs of eyes were on Hikaru, who was glaring at Kyoya. Kyoya had the grace to look mildly shocked by his outburst.

"I haven't the faintest idea what you're talking about, Hikaru. I think it is safe to say that I am the last person Haruhi would harbor feelings towards."

When Kyoya spoke, there was sadness in his voice, and a lot of regret. But there was not a trace of self-pity. No, Ootoris did not wallow in their failures, but rather they fought to overcome them. Haruhi falling for his brother instead of him was just another failure to be shoved aside in Kyoya Ootori's mind.

If only it were that easy.

Hikaru let out a breath. "In high school, when we were all over at Pension Misuzu's in Karuizawa, Haruhi and Kaoru met up late one night. Kaoru told me about it later, after we got back home.

"The night after my date with Haruhi, Kaoru and I went to bed, but Kaoru woke up in the middle of the night, and he went to get a glass of water. He ran into Haruhi in the kitchen, and they started talking.

"He wanted to know how Haruhi felt about me, if she would consider going on a second date with me. She told him that she was crushing on someone else. He kept prying, and after a few weeks, after the Test of Courage thing, Haruhi told Kaoru she had a crush on Kyoya."

It took Kyoya a moment to gather himself. He was stunned, but it didn't last long. He managed to choke out in a reasonably normal voice, "That was high school. Things have changed."

"No," Mori rumbled.

"I beg your pardon?"

"Haruhi never got over you, and you will never get over Haruhi. If you don't realize it soon, you will both wind up with the wrong people."

"Thank you, Mori, for those words of wisdom. However, I am not going to pursue any sort of romantic relationship with Haruhi, not if it gets in the way of her and my brother's relatioship. He is my family, like it or not, and she is my friend. I will not disrupt any happiness they might have for my own selfish reasons."

"You're making a mistake, Kyo-chan," Honey murmured. "You and Haru-chan are supposed to be together."

"And my brothers were supposed to be named the successors of the Ootori Group. Life does not turn out the way you plan it, Honey."

"Kyo-chan, if you're not willing to fight for Haruhi the way you fought for the company, then you don't deserve her."

The other hosts nodded in silent agreement.

"Then so be it," Kyoya bit out before walking out of the room.

In the foyer, Kyoya ran into two people, who he was surprised to see talking conversationally. Before they noticed him, Kyoya ducked behind a pillar and listened in on the discussion.

"You are a bright girl, and you have an excellent future ahead of you," came his father's voice, echoing against marble walls of the Suoh residence.

"Thank you, sir."

"But, Haruhi-san, this decision of yours, it worries me. I do not think such an association is wise. You are a serious person, you like stability. He can be erratic, and . . . overly social. I do not approve of a relationship between the two of you."

He's as "overly social" as Tamaki was in college, Kyoya thought to himself.

"Sir, with all due respect, he's your son," Haruhi pointed out.

"I know that. But I have two other sons!"

Not for long, if you keep this up.

"Yuuichi is married."

"What about the other one?" Yoshio pressed in earnest

"What about him?" Haruhi replied. Kyoya could tell she was losing patience fast.

"Why don't you try dating Kyoya, hm? He'd be a much better match for you."

"Ootori-san, if you're trying to get me away from Akito-san so you can marry him off to the engineer's daughter, you're going to have some problems. Not just with me, but with Akito-san. He doesn't want to marry her."

"So it's Akito-san, is it? That's not very cordial."

"We haven't even gone out on a date yet. And for the record, he said I could call him Akito-kun, or just Akito. I think I'll wait until we actually go on a date first."

Bloody flirt.

"And when will that be?"

"We have a date set for tomorrow night. That way we'll have gotten to know each other before the Garden Party, when the cameras will be rolling."

Kyoya almost punched the pillar before remembering he was eavesdropping.

"You don't think a date between Japan's number one up-and-coming lawyer and the world's biggest playboy won't garner some attention?"

"You're calling your own son a playboy?"

"It's what makes him good at his job."

"Well, then, I'll be sure to give the reporters a blow-by-blow of our hot and heavy romance and all the passionate making out we've been up to behind the scenes. I'm sure they'll love to hear all about the sexcapades of Haruhi Fujioka and Akito Ootori," Haruhi exclaimed, her voice dripping with excess sarcasm.

Kyoya's lips twitched. Haruhi only ever had so much patience when it came to his father.

"You wouldn't," Yoshio growled.

"Of course I wouldn't! We haven't even gone out yet! Why can't everyone just get off my back! I'll date whichever Ootori I want to date, screw the press!" Haruhi shouted, storming out.

Author's Note: What, you really think Hikaru and Kaoru keep secrets from each other? Hope you like it! Thanks to all those reading, reviewing, etc.! Keep it up! Oh, and I've got a one shot I've been playing around with featuring a Mori-Haruhi-Kyoya love triangle, to be posted in a week or two.