Hi.

I'm alive.

Gasp.

And if your ignore the previous chapter of puppy this is the actual chapter. No crack, no nonsense, and plot.

Good juicy plot.

Kyoya had been turning things over in his mind slowly as he sat on his bed with the large windows thrown open so the noise of the city drifted far above. The New York skyline stretched out before him, but he wasn't interested in sight seeing, he wanted a few answers and another hint.

He had of course assumed that Jin was behind spiriting Mikan away, and the wild rumor they were to be wed seemed good enough cover to explain the sudden charges to the club accountant, supported of course by any sudden rise in host club attendance. It did add a large amount to Haruhi's already immense load, but he didn't see a good point in telling her so.

Not yet.

He pushed up his glasses.

The whole thing with the spirit name, Jizo, protector of humankind or something, he hadn't really paid much mind to the research.

What it implied was a third party acting a benefactor to their missing puppy, who didn't want to be found.

He had crossed off the usual list of suspects, though Kagame remained to the side, she could clear herself and pull of the whole operation if she wanted to. It was odd to think that she would, being all the way in Japan. She loved her sister, but he doubted she would aid in her sudden disappearance.

He had of course tracked the last logged locations of the GPS on her phone, but there was no pattern than his computer could understand, to put it simply she was all over the place, china town, the airport, a swanky hotel in the upper east side, and then to three restraunts and a laundry mat.

Either the puppy was on the move, or something had gone wrong with GPS. He decided it was the second going off the assumption that Mikan was oblivious to her elevated state of a missing person. He felt his phone ring, once, twice, on the bed as he picked it up.

Goddess.

He sighed, Kagame had programed her number into his phone, and he couldn't delete it for some strange, annoying reason. He waited a few more seconds and then flipped it open.

"Kyoya have you seen the news? Well the American news at least, Mikan has been elevated to the status of a missing socialite, well-just flip to the nearest channel."

Kyoya glanced around. He had never stayed in the room where the head excutive would have slept on a business trip. There was a rather large tv hidden behind two cupboard doors, but he had never bothered to turn it on. He doubted if there was a remote in the room.

He pulled open the side dresser drawer, as he fiddled with a few of the button. The TV clicked on in an instant, as the latest headline ran across the bottom, "daughter of famous Japanese author missing; any information about her-"

He clicked to a second channel," The dissaperence of Mikan Tanaka has police asking for any information to come forward-"

"What is this?' Kyoya asked the phone as Kagame sighed on the other line.

"I don't know. I-well I knew she left the country after I got your text, but I figured she had run of with Jin. Whoever alerted the media had um-I don't know some kind of bizziare motive. Mikan's been out of the dance scene to long to cause a fuss and mom's book only just released in the states. I mean it was a hit on the East Coast, but we're not internationally famous-"

"The media, your american media, will do anything for an international story, especially with a school girl with as much intrigue as Puppy." Kyoya answered, "Have it resolved would you, I don't want our club becoming involved in any way."

"What? Call them up and say just kidding we found her." Kagame's annoyed voice drifted over the line. Kyoya realized there was a costant babble in the back round, the clink of glasses.

"Are you at a restraunt? Or rather I should ask are you out drinking?" Kyoya laughed, as he lowered the volume on the TV.

"Neither. Well I'm somewhere, none of your business though." Kagame answered, though her answer was distracted, like she was looking over her shoulder kind of distracted, "Just find her and end the media storm. I'm not sure if Mom wants this kind of um-free publicity."

"Mikan Tanaka was found safe with her best friends after neglecting to alert her older sibling and current care taker of her where abouts-" Kyoya rattled off the news line, "She went on to say she had no idea that half of America was looking for her, hoping to instead escape the recent pressure of her mother's sudden fame. She will be returning to Japan and her studies at the end of the week."

"Damn your good." Kagame's swear drifted over the line as there was a sudden cry, someone was greeting her rather loudly to it seemed, "Gotta go. Bye."

"Don't get to drunk." Kyoya gave final warning as he clicked the phone shut with a snap. He pulled up the latest American New's sites, taking a few notes on what they were saying, when the report had been issued. It would have had to be a small window of time in between when she left Japan and arrived, since they would be day behind.

It would of course now make it twice as hard to find her, if she was trying to hide from the world who was convinced she was in danger.

This was becoming a very tangled web, he noticed as he glanced at his notes, the page seemed to be black with the amount of ink.

Jizo-unkown benefactor and tip off.

Media-unrelated.

Mikan and Jin-most likely on vacation or eloping-depended if he was going to let Tamaki's wild idea of them getting married actually come true, he'd never put it past Mikan of course.

Then the who and the why?

Kyoya was beginning to feel he was playing chess, with a shadow, who was matching his moves, as someone slipped him moves from the side, making it a race, with to much as stake. The whole thing, with the added media coverage could easily balloon into an ugly mess, and defame everyone involved. He shuddered as he snapped the notebook with a click thump as he rose of the bed and shoved up the glasses.

If he was the shadow king, and he was, Mikan would be found long before this shadow player could make their next move. He closed down the laptop, as he exited the room to see if anyone had made progress with the note they had gotten just before leaving.

It wasn't in French, Spanish, Japanese, Chinese-He paused as he stared at the rather odd scene that was playing out in the gathering area.

The twins and Tamaki, with Honey perched between them seem to be marveling at Haruhi and the slip of paper and a mirror.

"Do it again!" Honey cried throwing his hands in the air as Haruhi sighed frustrated.

"It's an old trick.' She answered, "You can only read what's written when you hold it up to a mirror because it's written backwards."

She demonstrated again, "It says follow the yellow brick road, to where the swan will give you the golden egg."

"Well that's simple." Kyoya's voice rang out, as they turned, jumping at his sudden presence.

"Shadow king." The twins hissed to each other hugging each other close and leaning away from him. He descended the rest of the stairs as he made his way to the common area. It was large enough to comfortably sit another four people if needed, but they seemed to be concentrated around the coffee table and black leather couch. Mori sat a lil ways apart in a chair, seemed to be torn between sleeping and preparing himself for Honey came bounding back to his lap.

"Taxi's. Follow to where the Taxi's are going-swan-is probably a play-and I'm not quite sure about the golden egg, but its probably a reference to a stage prop." Kyoya said with a nudge and good glint of his glasses.

"To-" Tamaki stood up as he swung around a pink feather boa around, "The theater."

"Tamaki, do I want to know why you're currently wearing a 'pink' boa?" Kyoya asked as he resisted the urge to slap a hand to his face.

"Simple mother." Tamaki answered with a wave of his hand, "The puppy will be attracted to my 'theater' vibes, it an occurrence with all theater people."

"No." Kyoya answered simply, "Get dressed properly, we are representing our families, so we will leave dressed properly." He stressed the last word as Tamaki tugged on his I Love New York t-shirt.

"But-but-" He began as he simply moved away with head hung as he muttered about un fair mother's, being cruel to fathers. He was the only one who had the need to change in seemed though, as everyone stayed put or rather made themselves at home. The twins had Haruhi slung on the coach between them as Honey had happily returned to Mori's lap.

Kyoya stood in place as Tamaki slumped by a few moments later, dressed he noted happily, a little better than before having ditched his ridiculous getup of the boa and tourist shirt. He moved silently to the doors, pocketing the keys to the door as the group shuffled after him to the elevator.

"We're going to take Taxi's." Kyoya announced as they piled into the elevator catching the twin's grimace at the word, "We don't want to draw attention in a long limo."

"But-we always travel by limo-'They began.

"You could walk." Kyoya answered as they grew silent on the subject entertaining themselves with asking Haruhi all about what she knew about New York City, which was of course was flat nothing, and then teasing her how she had never experience commoner life in a foreign city.

He'd would be able to ignore it better if Tamaki wasn't egging them on in protecting her, and thus the usual cycle of arguing, teasing, and insults seemed to fill the space at an alarming rate. He tried not to rush from the short space, but his mental health was in check. He paused for a moment by the desk as the man noticed him with a nod.

"Shall I have a car brought round?' The man asked, as he waited with his hand on the dial of the phone.

"No. No. Two taxi's." Kyoya answered as he pushed the door key across for safe keeping.

"Very good." The man answered as he spoke quickly into the phone, "Your taxi's will be waiting outside for you sir." As he took the key to hang it on it's own hook, "Sir, a card was left today, by a well I suppose you called her an elderly woman, she said you had requested the name."

Kyoya waited as the man brought the card forward, he glanced at it, and pocketed it , thanking him as he moved forward to catch up with Tamaki who was leading the pack out the main doors. A dangerous thing indeed, Kyoya thought to himself.

"We call this one!" The twins yelled, as Tamaki clambered into the passenger seat next to the driver. Kyoya sighed as he watched it roll away, as he climbed into the one with Mori and Hunny.

His phone rang a moment later, "Ask for the Broadway district."

"Thanks." Tamaki's voice drifted over the phone as Kyoya shut it with another tight snap.

"Look! It's Mikan!" Honey pointed out the window to a screen that was running the latest new feeds, "Why does it say she's missing?"

"Wrong Mikan." Kyoya lied quickly as Honey nodded as kept staring out the window ohhing and awing at every passing sight. Mori was quiet as usual, with eyes locked forward and knees pressing against the back of the seats. Kyoya felt sorry for the giant having to ride in the cramped Taxi, but he didn't seem to complain, though there was no telling what Mori was thinking.

Ever.

The ride lasted a few more moments that Kyoya would have liked as fished out a few bills from his coat pocket, the driver giving him a nod as he stepped out into the busy streets and nearly missing getting run over by the cars that zipped by. He edged himself onto the sidewalk where the rest were already waiting busy gawking at the billboards and flashing lights.

"Is it me or is it cold?' Haruhi commented as she began to shiver with the brief gust of air from some air conditioned building. People were crazy if they needed rooms that cold. The city was over whelming, interesting and smell of food. She didn't realize how hungry she was until her stomach let out a low growl.

"Haruhi! Try this you should like it." Hikaru shoved a giant preztal in her face, "Their famous in New York City."

"A giant pretzel.' She repeated, but she took it and almost devoured it in a few seconds. She gazed at her empty hands, but her stomach was stastifed.

"We didn't realize you had such an appetite.' The twins commented to each other with a barking laugh as they grabbed an arm each, "Come on Haruhi, you'll get lost if you don't stick close to us."

"Pft." She muttered to herself, "I'll get lost with you, which is twice as bad."

The twins didn't catch the comment as they started forward down the side walk, changing so they instead each as a hand as they watched the unmistakable form of Mori with Hunny on his shoulders drifting through the crowds at an alarming speed as Kyoya led a gasping Tamaki.

It was probably the worst place for any of them to be, Times Square was the brightest place in New York City, with more things to gawk at on the side walk than a museum. Haruhi didn't suspect combined with Tamaki's antics and Honey's ohh's and ahh''s it would be dark before they were able to move a block up the street.

She was just annoyed at being beat back by the people, Americans were very different. Everyone kept their heads down and ran back and forth like they were trying to catch a train. She couldn't understand what they were saying either, her English wasn't the best at the moment.

The twins seemed to enjoy themselves to the point it was scary the way they smiled, she realized people were staring at them. They were in their natural element, bathing in the attention of every person in a five mile radius and loving it, but it was some how worse, they didn't have to put in any effort at this point.

She was about to tear herself from their ever tightening grip on her wrists when Kyoya stopped short and turned around. They followed once more switching directions as they now had to job to keep up. It happened three more times as the twins suddenly paused an instead watched as he ran back and forth.

Mori caught on as he drifted to their place with Honey happily resting his head on top of his. Kyoya did this several more times with only Tamaki pacing with him, until he stopped and Tamaki ran past and back before Kyoya shot out an arm stopping him flat.

""Kyoya I don't think this is right." Tamaki started as he caught his breath. Haruhi rolled her eyes, took someone long enough, she crossed her arms stealing them back the twins who slumped forward, bored once more.

He turned slowly as Tamaki shrunk away hiding instead by the twins as Kyoya seemed to be frozen in thought. He tapped his foot, glanced up and behind him and then back at the sidewalk.

Haruhi realized, the Shadow King, was stumped. She cleared her throat, since no one else seemed to be willing to say anything, "Yellow brick road, swan, golden egg."

She paused as Kyoya stared at her and she shrugged finishing weakly, "It could it mean a park-like the sun shining on the a brick path and a swan being a lake and an egg maybe a statue."

"That-"Kyoya began as he raised a finger and held her gaze before turning away and starting foreword, 'I'll hail us a cab."

"It's about sunset know-" Tamaki started as he stared up at the sky not having to look to far, "where are we going to find sunshine and a swan. '

'And indoor garden, the botanical gardens." Haruhi answered as she remembered the maps the twins had shoved at her when she had woken up from her rather blissful nap, "But they would be closed by now."

"Ah. We could sneak in. Mori is tall enough, we could hoist you over the wall-' The twins began grinning at each other, suddenly intrigued at the idea as Mori took a step away, as if to say he wasn't going to haul anyone over any walls.

Kyoya moved out the way of the crowds that had been streaming around him like he didn't exist as he slipped a hand into his pocket, "The Golden Path, it's a restaurant."

"A restaurant?' The twins seemed outraged, "How are we supposed to break into a restaurant?"

"We don't.' Kyoya answered as they turned away, "The Golden Path. We can walk from here."

"Walk." The twins seemed defeated at the idea, "Evil. Evil Shadow King."

Haruhi laughed, "Come on, you'll live like commoners. Walking is what we do best."

"Yes! Go Haruhi!" Tamaki shouted behind her as he was faster this time walking beside her, "Show us the proper walking technique of the commoners."

"Psh." The twins bumped Tamaki out of the way as he stumbled instead into a wall with a dismissive wave of their hands,"We are the only ones worthy to walk with the all knowing commoner."

"Who said anything about walking?" Kyoya challenged them as he hurried by almost in a job, but not quite. Haruhi grumbled she was good at walking but not fast as the twins hurried forward with her again. She was heaving for breath as they dodged people, Mori easily passing them without breaking a sweat with his long stride and Tamaki crying out behind them.

The twins only laughed as they dodged traffic as Haruhi felt her heart jump at the squeal of tires and the hasty apologies of Tamaki. She didn't have time to steal a glance behind her as the twins shifted right, then left, then right again in a dizzy maze. She stopped trying to see the sights, everything blurred together in a seam of concrete and posters.

She was ready to hit the payment, and probably would have had it not been for the twins who stopped. She took great gulps of air, as Kyoya stood at the door, as the sign loudly proclaimed, "The Golden Path."

"Yellow brick road." Kyoya pointed, "Any ideas about a swan Haruhi?"

"No." She answered jumping that he had spoken. Directly. To her. The twins didn't seem to notice the shift in his character as they rubbed their chins, "Swan. Swan. Does the restaurant serve swan? Maybe duck-"

"We'll go see a menu." Kyoya answered as he pushed open the door, followed by Mori and Hunny.

"Way-to wait."

Haruhi turned to see a panting Tamaki who was bent over on his knees taking breaths of air.

"So sorry Milord.' The twins shook their heads, "Come commoner, show us the technique of ordering from a commoner restaurant."

Haruhi rolled her eyes, the commoner joke had gotten old, very fast and now it simply rubbed her the wrong way. She stole her arms back, grabbing Tamaki's hand, as she led him behind the twins inside. He seemed to stumble, and then straighten when he noticed she was holding his hand. She let go, before he could comment go, as he seemed to suddenly be more interested in the commoner restaurant.

It wasn't like any restaurant she had ever been in, everything was covered in red or gold. There was a pair of lions that sat on the either side, the reached about her hip with their mouths wide open. A steady stream of people crowded what she sure was the bar and plenty of others already seated with the steady clamor of forks and plates.

A young woman stood behind a podium marking off things with a marker as she glanced up.

"SWAN!" Honey yelled loud enough so a few patrons stopped and stared. Haruhi stared at him as he was pointing to her tag on her chest.

"Swan." She repeated with a nod her head.

"Oh.' The twins nodded, "She's the swan in the clue, where's your golden egg?"

She stared at them as Haruhi glared at them, "She doesn't speak Japanese."

"Could we see a menu?' Kyoya asked as he pointed behind her as she nodded happily handing him one.

He flipped through it, quickly, "Nothing with the golden egg in the title."

"Maybe because it's a dinner menu." Haruhi answered with a shrug, "I think most American restaurants serve breakfast."

Kyoya stared at her dumbfounded as he quickly exchanged the menu for a breakfast one. She tried to ignore the gazes he kept giving her, they were, out of character, as if the search for Mikan had made him off balanced. Or maybe she was just imagining the whole thing, as the familiar sheen of his glasses returned.

She shuddered as Tamaki grinned, 'The Golden Egg Special, it's an omelet."

"Can we get this?' Kyoya asked pointing to it as he pulled out a credit card. The girl smiled taking the menu as she led him down and around. He mentioned for the rest of them to follow, the girl led them instead past the other patrons to a pair of doors. She pushed them open with a click of a handle, as they walked by.

"Your meal will be ready in a few moments." She answered with a polite nod of her head.

"She speaks Japanese?" Haruhi stared after her, as the rest of the host club shrugged.

"Obviously they know of our-esteemed presence." Tamaki answered as he ran around to take a comfortable seat in a plush red chair, "My colors, gold and red."

"I don't think so." Haruhi began as she seated herself carefully and rested her arms on the long wood table dyed black, "I think this is all part of the next clue."

"To early to tell." Kyoya answered as he sat a few down from her, the twins sitting on either side of her, giving her space between her and the Shadow King for which she was very happy. She tried to avoid his gaze instead looking at the ornate ceiling with the hanging lamps, the high ceiling, the little lions.

The place was big on lions, they were everywhere.

"You know the yellow brick road, sounds like that movie-" Tamaki began, "I saw it once as a child, but there was a cowardly lion, a scarecrow and a metal man-"

"Your thinking of the Wizard of Oz, Milord. "The twins said flatly, "And we saw it last year, were you screamed about flying monkeys for a few hours afterwards."

"Oh." Tamaki stared instead at the gold plate, "Well I just wonder who Mikan is supposed to be-Dorothy or Toto?"

"Toto." Kyoya interjected, "I'm in the tin man."

"Milord you're the cowardly lion!" The twins called out laughing.

"Oh yeah! Then you're the scarecrow!" Tamaki answered pointing his fork at them, but they were to busy smirking at each other and making notes at just how much the cowardly lion and Tamaki were alike to pay much mind.

"Jin is the-wicked witch of the west." Haruhi cut in, "and who would Jizo be?"

"The wizard. The man pulling the strings." Kyoya raised a finger as Honey clapped his hands together so they echoed around the room.

"I have a flying monkey. Fly Takashi! Fly!" Honey ordered as he leapt into his friend's arms. Mori patiently instead shifted him to his shoulders as Honey grabbed his hands forcing his arms go up and down, up and down.

Haruhi laughed as she tried to hide her laughter, as she shook her head. The twins were beside themselves as they pounded the table, before they managed to calm themselves in time for when the door opened.

"Your meal.' The waitress gestured as seven different waiters carried in seven different covered dishes, sliding them to each of the members, before hurrying back out without another word. The waitress nodded, as she re shut the door.

There was a short silence, as each of them stared at the gold covered dishes.

"We only get air-' The twins complained glancing at their empty water glasses, "We don't remember ordering."

Kyoya was the first to life up his plate, "It's a piece of paper."

"What!" The twins yelled as they threw off their own dishes covers,"Our's to."

"I think everyone got a piece of paper." Haruhi commented as she picked hers up. It was scribbled in little symbols as she turned it over, "What are we supposed to wish these?"

Kyoya fingered his slip for a minute as he rapped his fingers against the table, "It's the next clue."

"How is this a clue?' The twins demanded waving the small piece of thin paper. Only one side was colored, the other was white, but each of them had gotten a different color. Haruhi noted her's was the only one with the little black symbols though.

She sighed, "Well I'm out of ideas. Can we please go get some actual food? I'm starving."

"Ahhh! Come daughter! We shall find you a meal!" Tamaki shoved past his chair was the table as Haruhi carefully put her slip away in her pocket, before she let him lead her out the door. The twins were fighting to keep up this time, as they rushed back through the front of the restaurant.

Haruhi didn't see the need for any sort of hurry, the sun was already setting in the sky, meaning any more clue hunting would have to wait until she had eaten and had a full nights rest. Kyoya was out last of the restaurant as he carefully pocket his purple slip of paper, assuming of course they had all done the same.

'Where do we go?" Tamaki asked as he glanced around the wide city.

"We know a place.' The twins volunteered, "Come along, we're off to see the wizard." As they broke out into a skip with Haruhi slung between them. She felt herself bounce between their grips as the annoying tune ran in a loop in her head.

There was no stopping it no, they had decided to follow the yellow brick road, wherever it would lead them. She hoped it ended with Mikan and her own bed.

"We're off to see the wizard!" The twins hit a new high note as she cringed.

"The wonderful wizard of oz." She finished for them. She really hoped that the yellow brick wasn't to long. She wasn't sure if she could take all this abuse much longer.

"What are we going to now Takashi?" Honey's voice drifted behind them. She caught Kyoya telling Tamaki they couldn't dwell on it tonight, that Jin wouldn't marry Mikan and have children in the day they had been here, and they would pick up the search first thing in the morning.

"There's no use in destroying-" He started as she heard the familiar rustle of the thin paper, "What little evidence we have."

okay an actual chapter. Holy crap! Yep, been awhile an my comp committed suicide so thank god for mac labs at school.

I'm being very productive recently.

So enjoy this legit chapter of puppy.

Please please leave REVIEW, they are very very helpful! as far as how the story is going, the arch is on a roll.

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and maybe your get a clue or two...or maybe a cookie ...cookie would be good.