Chapter One

After Fair

The fireworks are blossoming in the glittering night sky as Ranka opened the door of his apartment waiting for his daughter. It was relatively unusual that the skies of somewhere nearby is ablaze with fiery beauty on a Friday night. Considering it was a treat for his day-off, he leaned on the opened door and stare at it. For a second, he was lost in the mesmerizing sight of illuminations, and took no notice of the steps climbing the stairs by the end of the outdoor hallway.

Slowly, she stepped up; being careful with the bags she's hugging on her arms. Haruhi was surprised to see her dad at home but before she could comment on it, she too took a few seconds being captivated then again with the same color explosion her dad is appreciating. After that brief pause, she continued slowly until she reached the door of which the red-headed man was guarding.

"Dad? You're home?"

"Haruhi! I didn't notice you arriving! The fireworks are wonderful but I'm wondering why there's such a thing for tonight." Ranka helped his daughter out with the bags, completely forgetting he was supposed to be worried. It was five 'til eight when his high school daughter arrived from school. Thinking about it, it made him wonder whether Haruhi does sneak going out on evenings when he's out working late or if this is just another atypical addition to his night.

"Oh, they're from our school, that's for ending the Ouran Fair."

Ranka busily placed the paper bags on the kitchen counter and carefully took out elegant little pieces of 'decorations' that came inside it. With a slight glance he thought there's something mushy about how his daughter is staring at him. She continued to speak,

"It's nice, huh? Those are sweets and deserts Honey-senpai made me take home. On the other bag there's dendrobium orchids and lilies Kyouya-senpai gave me as well." With that being said, it was clear to Ranka that this night is somehow strange.

He wanted to jive and swim with the flow of this peculiar current. But he's not sure whether this chattiness would be long-lived enough to last the night. He had to think of a good general conversation starter.

"How was your day, my little one?" he asked totally ignoring what Haruhi have just said. He realized that the way he's smiling might make Haruhi conscious of his hidden intent and might sour the mood, so he turned to dig out the things from the second bag. Witnessing the contents, the 'sweets from this and flowers from that' has just sunken in his comprehension. They indeed looked delectable too.

"Well, it was fun. We've been busy entertaining the parents and students for the whole two days. Seeing the stuff that the other clubs have was interesting too! There were clubs that I didn't knew exists, and…"

Haruhi may have been filling her father out on that but it seems like the other end wasn't completely listening. Ranka's ears were a few sentences delayed as it manifests on his exclamation.

"What?! You said who has just given you these expensive flowers?!"

"Oh. When Hunny-senpai and the rest of the stooges (namely Hikaru, Kaoru and Tamaki) said I should bring home some sweets, Kyouya-senpai also told me that I could bring the flowers home if I want. It's better to make it as mom's memorial offering than letting them throw it, right?" Of course that was what she meant. Haruhi checked the kitchen cabinets as to prepare utensils for cooking an eating. She realized it was all done and the dinner is all set for them.

She shouldn't have said it that way then! Sure enough the way she said it was suspicious too, or maybe it's just me? My little girl is too innocent, it makes her cuter! "Oh. Of course they did. Now, why don't we eat? And, what were you saying before honey? He he he he" Ranka was letting out his embarrassed-laugh as they sat down to eat the dinner he prepared. He couldn't help it though, the moment he finally met the club members his daughter was spending time with, he has just became unnecessarily suspicious—especially when he figured out that one of them is obviously fawning over Haruhi in a romantic sense.

"Yes, so AS I WAS SAYING…there were many big people that we had accommodated. Although I already knew about Ouran, I think I was still caught off-guard with the presence of their parents. It was just on a whole new level…"

"Wait…" unexpectedly this time, the sour mood was brought by the red-headed guy who was sipping his bowl of soup. He keeps getting appalled with the details his daughter has been feeding him for the night. "…So tell me Haruhi. WHY DID YOU FAIL TO MENTION AGAIN THAT IT WAS BRING-BRING-YOUR-PARENTS-TO SCHOOL DAY?!"

"Well, it wasn't exactly bring-your-parents-to school day! It was just a School Fair and how would I know that the parents normally join in? Besides, I was surprised you had a day off!"

Ranka was still over tears while chewing on a piece of meat. He was making his version of the puppy-dog-eyes that was horribly unconvincing for Haruhi's taste. Since his daughter was practically ignoring him this time, he had no choice but to get over his broken heart despite his flooding eyes. "Daddy was just worried about you not eating your breakfast so I skipped work, but I'm feeling you're back to your normal senses now. Hu hu hu"

...

It's quarter past seven in an early spring morning and somehow, the bizarre climate from the night before is still felt until inside the so called 'dark lord's' haven. Kyouya's dark onyx eyes slowly opened but his body kept the stillness as if he woke up from a strange nightmare. He's not typically startled over dreams—whether good or bad, as evidenced by how he calmly picked up his phone that was resting at the bedside table. His fingers swiftly tapped the same set of number he had been redialing the day before and placed the phone over his ear. Being his body fully rested on the bed, he still was too somnolent to wait for an answer. He was woken up again by a disconnecting tone and hit the redial once again as he grunted. He repeated the sequence three more times before he wasn't able to wake up from any tone made by the other line.

It was nine on the dot when the low-blood-pressure-demon-lord has commenced from his slumber in the same manner as he did earlier. He did the exact same thing from almost two hours ago as if forgetting he had. Nearly falling asleep, he realized he had already been in the same situation as soon as he heard the automated answering system that kept him from hitting redial again. That #**&#?! moron. Is it so hard to pick up a call?!

Being the low-blood-pressure-demon-lord that he is, the bodyguards outside his room only heard a blistering thud on the floor being obviously hit by something projectile that flew out from the second floor. Apparently they were sorrier to their gallant fellow who was caught up in the situation being on the same floor as their master. As the only one among the three allowed to get in, he was just dropping off a few folders that was asked, and courageously attempted to wake the low-blood-pressure-demon-lord if he will have the chance—it was time for him to wake up after all.

Clearly, the poor escort might have frozen in fright and disregarded waking Kyouya for it was quarter to eleven when the hirelings have heard their master prepare himself for the morning. Hearing him through the crack of his door, they immediately had the breakfast, or lunch ready. Not wanting for any mistakes first thing in the morning, Tachibana gathered himself up to give the door a knock before coming in for the second time.

"Kyouya-sama, good morning. Your meal is waiting and the staff is curious whether you'd still like to have coffee or would you like the Concord Grape juice, perhaps?"

As much as he didn't want to entertain a question he finds stupid, the bad mood he acquired from calling a dead line couldn't stop him from being infuriated instead. It took him a minute or three to finally give in and blow up.

"I don't deserve a futile question so early thing in the morning Tachibana. Make coffee." Kyouya gave a cold and disinterested reply as he buttoned up his maroon shirt of long sleeves. He moved to the next closet and opened the dresser-drawer inside where he took a wrist-watch and handkerchief of his choice. He placed the cloth in his left pocket and with his fingers, brushed off some hair that wasn't completely dry. He picked out a black blazer and hanged it to his forearm. Calmly, he locked the watch on his right wrist—realizing what time it was and paying zero attention to the other man inside.

"Of course sir, right away."

"Never mind, you gave me insipid choices. I'd prefer something out of it. Make tea instead." Kyouya changed to a more acceptable choice of beverage for midday and all day.

"Absolutely sir. I'll be going now."

Kyouya followed the older man soon after. He walked down their dining room where he'd be having his meal alone. If he had woken up sooner, his father and older brother Akito would be there for breakfast as the three of them normally would on a daily basis. Now, he took the seat on his side of the table and read the newspaper that was already set out for him.

"Which reminds me...get me the contact details of this publishing firm's son."

The three of them bowed in response. Hotta, the youngest among Kyouya's guards excused himself out of the room right after that.

"By the way, Tachibana, did you clean my room this morning while I was asleep? I'm certain I had my phone nearby."

"It's right under the coffee table at the first floor of your bedroom sir. I found it there when I came to leave the folders you asked last night. I'll get it for you right this instant."

"I see." Kyouya responded to the man who has already turned his way to the hallway.

Kyouya is not really big on breakfasts as he barely touched his plate. He doesn't really feel like eating right after he gets out of his bed or his room but he routinely does take more than a bite for it's his father's protocol (and anyone on the health and medical business too). He was reading the Business and Economics section of the paper and was sipping on his tea when Tachibana arrived almost together with Hotta. He handed the phone and the folders to their young master before his fellow bodyguard gave the detail that was asked earlier.

"Here is the business card Kyouya-sama. It's Akira Komatsuzawa. The first son of the Komatsuzawa Publishing Firm and the president of your school's newspaper club", Hotta handed the piece of card while supplying information that Kyouya missed to give. He doesn't really supply copious details assuming they're not necessary and that you already understand. It's got to be part of their job to research and make sure they are on the same page as their young master.

"Exactly." Kyouya took the card and dialed his phone right away. And while he puts the phone to his ear and connected to the other line, his right hand was busy running through the black folders he just received.

...

It's horrible.

Haruhi stared at blank space as she stood in front of the stove waiting for the water to boil. Right when she found too much peace in her mind last night, she found it nearly impossible to sleep. She woke up feeling groggy and in need of something warm to drink.

Why was it so hard to sleep last night?! And why on earth do my thoughts lead to just about anything concerning Tamaki-senpai?! We almost lost him yesterday, yes. I feel sad that he doesn't get to see his mom on will, correct. I am a bit worried with his relationship with his grandmother, true…but the others already said he's going to come around fine with it…and and if my memory serves me correctly, I did gave him a hug back when we fell in the water. What did I just do?! Not to mention I feel my face getting hot just by thinking about it! That's it! This may be an impending illness because it took me so long to dry up yesterday…I'm sure that's it. That's the reason why it was so uncomfortable to sleep.

"Haruhiiiii! The water has been boiling already!

Haruhi snapped back to reality as the sound of the squealing kettle slowly took up all of her ears. She immediately resolved the vexatious noise and was just thinking whether she'd have tea or coffee instead. She took out the jar of instant coffee from the cupboard, opened it and tried to recognize the strong aroma of the powdered caffeine. It was unconscious that she tried to sniff it some more until it made her sneeze.

"What's wrong my dear? Are you feeling okay?"

"Uh, I guess…I may be having a cold. That should be it!" The thought of it makes Haruhi more relieved than worried. It's better a cold than something she doesn't understand. "I fell in the water yesterday and it took me some time to get dried up. Rather, the wind dried me up."

"What?!" Ranka immediately placed his slender hands on Haruhi's forehead. "Dried by the wind?! That's not very healthy Haruhi and why did you fall on the water at the first place?! It's good that you're not feverish though. Don't drink that! Have the lemon tea instead!"

"It's nothing; really…it was just…sort of…part of a club activity…?" Haruhi was doubtful of her own answer. She didn't want to let her dad know about what she did, let alone witness how he'd react about her maneuvering the carriage and falling out of the bridge.

"Suoh better not be the one who made you swim in the cold, did he?" He asked incredulously with his arms crossed in front of his chest making wrinkles on his work clothes.

"Uhh…no! No! It's not like that! And why does Tamaki-senpai has to pop out in our conversation?" This is not good. Why do I feel flustered when I hear his name? If this goes on, I must avoid him at all cost until I am fully recovered of my illness!

"You got a point my dear! My bad, I shouldn't have mentioned names that are nonessential. Anyway, take care my darling! Daddy will go to work now! Drink a lot of fluids and vitamins! You're starting to get red on the face already! Bye bye!" Ranka kissed his daughter's forehead right before he went fluttering outside the apartment beaming with high spirits.

She took a sip of her hot tea and sat idle for a minute. Slowly, the dreadful and horrific thoughts of Tamaki that her brain was makings her suffer last night was slowly creeping its way back in. Before she'd lose it to this unknown state of mind, she started to do random stuff like arranging her already organized study area.

Moments later, she has already done cleaning the kitchen, doing the laundry, cleaning the bathroom and taking a warm shower. On second thought, she flee from her study area as thinking about school stuff somehow manages to relate their way to her Senpai…which is something she didn't want to take chances with. She closed her room to change and heard her cellphone ringing from her school bag. She took no notice to it and entertained the call only as soon as she was done changing. When her phone made a buzz again, she propped it to her ear right before the fourth beep.

"Haruhi! You just woke up?! It's almost noon!"

"No Kaoru, I've just finished cleaning and showering. What is it?"

"Good. That means you're set to go!" "Alright!" "Is that Haru-chan?"

Haruhi heard a couple more distinct voices in the background. She then figured, trouble is on it's way. "Huh? What do you mean? Wait…are you with Hunny-senpai?"

"Yeah. Hikaru and I got bored since we went to the doctor so early in the morning to have his arm checked. We decided to drop by at Hunny-senpai's and gather everyone up! What do you think?"

"Nah, I think I'm gonna pass. I have some cleaning to do." Haruhi tried to elude with her usual aloof tone. But of course…it never works.

"You've just said you're done cleaning!" Hikaru voiced out almost screaming.

"Haru-chan! We'll have cake with everyone!"

"Honestly…aren't you guys tired from yesterday? Uhg, great. You've just reminded me I ran out of my energy drink. Well, I suddenly have something (better) to do…I'm going to the supermarket so no. Just have fun without me."

"We can wait!" Hunny sure wouldn't let go. Besides, among the three of them, it's him that Haruhi might less likely to give the runaround.

"We'll call you later Haruhi!" "Come on Kaoru let's finish this game already!"

There was a few more chatter Haruhi heard—two of which are from younger boys she assume are Hunny and Mori's younger brothers—before the lines have been disconnected. She let out a deep frustrated sigh just by thinking about the inescapable predicament she'd had to go through for the day.

...

Haruhi procrastinated almost five and a half hours just to hold off the inevitable fooling around. She took her time making and eating lunch, finishing the laundry, wandered around Marutomi Supermarket for almost a hundred and twenty minutes, went back home to iron a few shirts while making ginger cookies on the side—all the while she had been receiving text messages asking the exact same thing. 'Are you done yet?' have been sent to her seventeen times over and for the last message, it was the 'We're on our way to get you—I mean pick you up.', that of which she had already been anticipating in horror.

Twenty more minutes after she's done with ironing, she felt more apprehensive having to wait for them pick her up. She wonders where they're going and if Tamaki will be with them for the afternoon. There it goes again. The circling thoughts drilling their shape to Tamaki Suoh's name. It made her feel 'sick' and decide to tell the guys she'd bail out of the plan after all.

Haruhi was sitting depressingly as she thinks and waits. Her forearms standing atop the table with her fingers interlaced as if praying while her forehead leans to it. She stares at a small cookie bag when she heard the doorbell ring… This is it. I'll tell them I won't be going after all and I'll just hand them these cookies.

Holding the cookie bag with her left hand, she opened the door and saw Takashi Morinozuka standing behind it. "Are you ready, Haruhi?", he asked calmly with his deep strong voice.

I should've known better. Oh boy. "Yeah. Let's go?"

Obviously, the twins had planned it out long ago. It's already given that Haruhi can't make herself go against Takashi Morinozuka. Instead of what she originally intended to, Haruhi gave the house a final check and left the cookie bag, before she went to lock the door behind her. She gave that sigh of frustration again to their faultless doorknob while cursing the perpetrator of this gimmick deep down on her mind. Uhg, kill me. Why does Hikaru and Kaoru always have to drag me with this? Why is avoiding someone for just a while even impossible nowadays? But never mind that, I think I had to deal with the ride first. I see there's no one else. Oh man, this drive is gonna be loooong.

Knowing Mori only brings a few words with him, it was confusing to Haruhi whether she'd just go accordingly with the peace or should she lighten up the mood with small talk—the latter is an even more flustering choice for her, knowing herself, the social skills she's been preserving has a shelf-life of a banana. She quietly trailed behind the tall man bowing her head in deep thoughts. There was deafening silence until she was already buckled up on the front seat, which made her meditate that she could not take this anymore.

She doesn't know much about Mori-senpai, but for sure, hosting made her know a little about the art of making a conversation.

"Mori-senpai, where's Hunny-senpai and Hikaru and Kaoru? Weren't you with them?"

"No. I had something to attend to in the morning. I've just received their call an hour ago and told me to pick you along the way."

"So, they've been fooling around at Hunny-senpai's, right? I guess I heard your little brothers playing with them too."

"Yeah."

Oh boy. That's the end of one table talk…and I didn't bring a lot with me. "So, Mori-senpai, don't you usually have drivers? I didn't know you drive…not that I'm surprised." Haruhi made herself continue. Regretting soon after she realized that she might be disturbing his road concentration.

"My parents gave this to me this morning. As graduation present."

"Wow.", this time around she wasn't sure whether she's in a loss for words or she had too much to say that she decided to settle on a one-word reply. It wasn't a new thing that parents would give cars as graduation present. What she's excited about is, knowing she got to ride it fresh from the box…and by that, she meant it subjectively. Haruhi's fairly not interested on wheels and gears but the thought of having the honor as the first guest is what she appreciated about it.

"Oh yeah, the graduation…so both of Hunny-senpai and you have decided about it, yes?"

"Yeah. He's attending the Science and Technology sector—Engineering"

"Well, he's great in math, right? So, you're taking up engineering as well?"

"No. I decided to choose Jurisprudence—theory and philosophy of Law"

"No kidding?!" Haruhi has always been a fan of Lawyers. Right now, knowing that all along she's with someone who shares the same perspective about it makes her deeply moved almost in a silly sense. "When have you given it a thought? Wow. I never would've guessed. I'm more impressed with Mori-senpai than I thought I'd be."

"Hmm", the man beside her flashed a smile at the corner of his lips. She glanced at the dainty woman who sat on his side, showing enthusiastic spirits on her face. "The elders of my family helped me decide about it. But it's true to me that I wanted to pursue it. You too also like being a lawyer, right?" he added.

"Right!" Haruhi put an end to the conversation with a beaming grin. She didn't want to add more as she wanted to leave the thought at that. Besides, it seems that her companion has all his eyes on the road for that moment.

"Haruhi, before I forget. Here, give your dad a call and make him know where we're going." Mori said as he handed his own phone to Haruhi.

"It's alright, I got a phone with me." Her words almost like whisper thus she accepted the phone that was spooned out to her anyway.

"It's alright, if you use my number, your father will know you're with us."

"But…where are we going Mori-senpai?"

"Hmm? We're going to Tamaki's."

With that said, her big eyes widened even more. She froze. All the traces of her enthusiasm swept away with the slithering despair that's already starting to give the hairs on her nape a raise.

What?! NO WAAAYYYYY!

AN: Haruhi is starting to feel something for Tamaki but she's to oblivious about what it is being that she hasn't fallen in love before. So yeah, she's not over reacting with it...she seriously think she's ill :)