Haruhi clutched the red pencil in her hand tighter as she stared at the math equation in front of her. Hosting had been slow today, so she had decided to work on her studies. She had to keep up her grades as much as possible to keep her scholarship. Finally figuring out the problem Haruhi scribbled down the answer in her note-book. As she finished writing a different hand clamped over the one holding her pencil. Her head tilted up to look into the face of the person whom the hand belonged to. She was surprised to be met by eyes made more definite by the glasses that sat in front of them.

"What did I do?" Haruhi sighed as her head fell to her chest. Was he going to charge her for doing homework instead of hosting? Kyoya raised a brow as he removed his hand from Haruhi's. He stood up straight and clutched his black folder to his chest. Stepping back a little he shook his head.

"As far as I can see, you haven't done anything. I was only going to tell you that we are finished for today. Everyone is leaving. You just seemed distracted by your work. I thought it would kind to inform you of the others departure. This only shows me, that perhaps I should stop 'trying' to be nice," Kyoya replied.

Haruhi blinked. Was that last part Kyoya attempting to make a joke? Yet, his face was as blank as always. His glasses just sitting on the tip of his nose as his cool gaze watched her. Haruhi decided perhaps she just imagined it. Then she replayed the rest of what the shadow king had said in her head.

Her light brown eyes scanned the room to find that the other's, Indeed, were beginning to leave. She watched as Honey-sempai took one last bit of cup-cake and stuff it into his mouth, before Mori decided to lift him up. As Honey balanced on Mori's shoulders he turned to Haruhi and smiled widely.

"BYE HARUHI! Takashi and I are going to pick up my little brother from school!" Honey cheered happily with one arm shooting in the air. The boy's beloved pink bunny was clutched in the other hand as Mori continued out the door. Haruhi waved them off as she began to get out of the desk chair.

"Farewell Haruhi!" the twins cooed together as they embraced each-other on their exit. Haruhi just shook her head as a ghost of a smile shown on her face. She shuffled her papers and books while stuffing them into her bag. Out of the corner of her eye she sees Kyoya shut his lap-top and stand up straight.

"You should probably start heading home soon…" Kyoya said not looking up from what he was doing, Haruhi turned to him confused as he continued, and "I will be here a little longer. It's getting fairly dark, and I'm aware you walk home,"

Surprised, Haruhi could only nod her head. She swung her bag over her shoulder and began walking out the door. Her hand gripped the cool handle of the door and clicked it open. A feeling over-came Haruhi right then. It was as if the click of the door registered something in her brain. Yet, it wasn't to the same effect of the host club members.

Haruhi felt like she was missing something. She had her bag so that wasn't it. She felt that something was out of place. Her books were in her bag, so that wasn't it. She felt like she had forgotten something fairly important, but she wasn't exactly sure of what. That's when she heard the foot-steps following her down the hall.

Haruhi craned her neck to stare back behind her. It was that girl and boy from earlier. A huge 'Oh yeah…' echoed in her head as realized that it was her so called protectors she forgot about. Maybe, Kyoya was right when he said she was really distracted by her work.

"What are you doing?" Haruhi said plainly as she looked at them. Sakura and Naruto halted in their tracks. They looked back at Haruhi awkwardly then towards each-other. Naruto stepped up and grazed his blue sandals along the tile floor, while he put his arm behind his head.

"Um…we're protecting you, and we're trying to keep WHAT MONEY WE HAVE LEFT!" Naruto started nervously, but converted to his hyper-active knuckle-headed ninja self. Haruhi blinked, and Sakura groaned while putting her face in her hands.

"Money?" Haruhi asked questioningly. Coincidently a chibi picture of Kyoya popped into her head. The chibi Kyoya kept his serious face as he danced through piles upon piles of money. Haruhi's eyes narrowed. Sakura walked closer to Haruhi, while the other girl was still in thought.

"What Naruto is trying to say is that we want to make up for earlier. Since we apparently didn't do so great of a job," Sakura said calmly as swept a hand through her cherry blossom hair. A nervous smile crept to her face. Haruhi turned her head to the side to sigh. She breathed in deeply, and started walking forward.

"Fine. Let's just go, it's starting to get dark and it's a fairly long distance to my house," Haruhi said as she opened the door to the entrance of the school. Sakura's nervous smile faded into a real one and she walked towards Haruhi happily. Naruto heard Haruhi's reply as well, and bounded over to meet up with the two girls.

The trio filtered through the elaborate school front and began to descend down the white cobblestone steps that led out the gate. A light breeze flying by shook the leaves in the trees. Haruhi's short-length hair fluttered in front of her eyes. Haruhi brushed her hair out of her face and stopped when she spotted someone in the distance.

A silhouette leaned against one of the pillars beside the questionable fountain. Haruhi stepped closer and caught sight of spiky maroon hair. It was that Gaara person from this morning. Wasn't he one of the people who was supposed to 'protecting' her too? Why wasn't he with the other two behind her?

"Hello?" tried Haruhi as she finally caught the boy's attention. Aqua-marine eyes stared back into her light brown ones. His face was blank, but he walked towards the group. No words left his lips, but Haruhi took that he had at the very least acknowledged her. Naruto and Sakura went stiff as Gaara got close.

Taking no time to realize how un-comfortable Naruto and Sakura were in Gaara's presence, Haruhi started heading back to her house again. The trip to her house began to become very very quiet one with the addition of Gaara. Haruhi noticed that Sakura and Naruto had weary looks on their faces. Haruhi just shrugged it off and picked up her pace as the sun started dipping faster behind the trees.

"Um…so…" Sakura trying to start a conversation to break the almost un-bearable silence, "Haruhi? What is it you guys actually do in the host club?"

Haruhi shifted her bag on her shoulder as she thought about the question. The host-club did a lot of things. Most of which, made her life more difficult. Her face scrunched at this thought, but then she thought of the pretty fun times too. A light smile came to her lips. How could she word what the host club did? Perhaps Tamaki said it best, as she thought of his little speech.

"Well, since today Tamaki was missing, we didn't do a lot. However, the host club is pretty much what it sounds like, we host people. These aren't my views, but it's the best definition I can come up with," Haruhi said as she thought carefully about Tamaki's usual speech with a twist of her own flare, "Ouran Academy is defined by one, prestigious families, and two, rich bastards. For some reason rich people have hours of time on their hands, so the Ouran host club was given life. So, rich attractive boys flirt with equally wealthy girls for profit. Apparently it's a great source of amusement…"

The three ninja's were slightly taken aback. That was an interesting way to put it. Sakura bit her lip as she thought about what Haruhi implied. So the very attractive young men flirted with the girls at the school for money? Something seemed wrong with this picture, yet so right at the same time.

"If that's all you guys do, why do you need us? I mean I'll do this mission either way, but I mean why does a guy like you need ninjas?" Naruto questioned allowed as they continued onward. Gaara stayed quiet through most of the interaction, but was somewhat intrigued.

"I think the only reason for that is because of a paranoid friend. Truthfully, I don't need you guys, but it is interesting to meet new people," Haruhi said as she turned the corner of the street. The glamorous streets were turning normal as they continued on.

The group seemed content with this answer and trekked on. The sun was far below the trees now and the horizon was turning a deep orange. One last corner was crossed as they finally made it to Haruhi's street. The group was shocked.

"YOU LIVE HERE!?!?!" shouted Naruto as he stared at the apartment complex. Where was the huge over-size mansion? The in-door swimming pool? The butler? The huge snarling guard dogs? Haruhi quirked a brow at the question, but she had a vague idea of what he was getting at.

"If you're wondering why I live in an apartment, it's because I'm not full of money like those rich bas… like the other people at my school. I'm going there on a scholarship," Haruhi answered.

Sakura seemed impressed by the fact that Haruhi was smart enough to make it into such a prestigious school. Gaara seemed impressed too, but his facial expression never changed. For some reason, Naruto seemed uberly excited to the extreme, like he was about to explode. Haruhi didn't quite get Naruto's reaction.

"YES!!!!! Now we don't have to eat any fancy rich people food. Ha ha! Now I can eat loads of ramen!" Naruto said happily. Haruhi was actually kind of amused this time. Naruto seemed very enthusiastic about this.

"So, you like ramen?" Haruhi asked as they continued to stand outside her apartments. Sakura laughed loudly and tried to stifle it with her hand. Gaara looked at the pink-haired girl curiously.

"That's like asking if a fish likes water!" Sakura said cheer-fully with a smile on her face. Naruto pouted as he crossed his hands over his chest. He didn't like being made fun of. Haruhi almost smiled at the scene. She noticed that Gaara was still apart from the group, however.

"Yeah, I'm sure it's sooooo funny…Alright then, what's your favorite kind of food, then? Bet it's not as great as ramen…" Naruto said in a grumbly kind of voice with his arms crossed. Haruhi tilted her head up as she touched her index-finger to her chin to think about it.

"Well, I suppose my favorite food is fatty tuna, even though I've never gotten to try the real thing. No matter how much I've attempted too…" Haruhi said as she thought of all the times she had been so close to tasting the delectable treat. Naruto quirked a brow and un-crossed his arms.

"How can you have that as favorite food if you never tried it? I've at least eaten ramen before. Lots and lots of ramen, because it's the best food ever…believe it!" Naruto said as he looked at Haruhi critically. Sakura stifled another giggle, and Gaara continued to look bored.

"Well, I guess that is kind of strange" Haruhi said before seeing that the sun was almost completely gone and the streetlights were blinking on one by one, "I think I should probably go in. Good-bye, it was…interesting to me you today,"

Naruto blinked then began to wave enthusiastically, before running off. Sakura assumed he was most likely going to try to find a ramen stand. He probably made himself hungry talking about it. With a sigh and a weary glance towards Gaara, Sakura waved good-bye to Haruhi and headed off after Naruto.

Haruhi watched as Naruto and Sakura faded off into the distance. She adjusted her bag on her shoulder and started to ascend the steps to her apartment. She heard shuffling behind her and turned her head. Gaara was still standing in the same spot he had been the whole time.

"Good-bye…" Gaara said sounding almost like he was un-sure of himself. His mesmerizing eyes blinked as he looked up at Haruhi expectantly. Haruhi seemed surprised by the sudden interaction. She had noticed throughout the day that Gaara didn't like to talk much apparently. She gave him a weak smile.

"Good-bye Gaara, I suppose I'll see you tomorrow," Haruhi said before turning around and continuing up the stairs. After a moment or two she looked back to see if he was still there, but in that short time span he had managed to disappear. Well, he was a ninja…

……………..

Well, another chapter! YAY! However…I might not update the next chapter. IF! I don't get enough reviews. I mean…last chapter 127 people read it, but only 3 people reviewed. That's like a 124 people who could of reviewed but didn't. And for a couple of days there were no reviews on the chapter. For a while, I was worried you didn't like it. But eh…at least 5 reviews should hold me over. Heh. OH! ALSO! I have had request for different couplings. I shall put some effort into getting those in. Everyone should be able to have their couple moments. Yet, in the end there will be ONE couple. Other than that, PREPARE FOR THE NEXT CHAPTER!