Haruhi shut the door on them and took a cleansing breath. She began to clean up the kitchen and I sought out Ranka where he lingered by the bookshelves.

Circles under his eyes were beginning to show, but he pressed on. "Kyoya," he whispered loudly. "I need to know that boy's intentions toward Haruhi," he demanded. "I don't like the way he flutters and fawns over her."

"Oh, that's normal for Tamaki," I assured him. Keeping my voice low as well, I continued. "As to his intentions, I don't believe he has any. He's used to charming the ladies—the host club clients find it quite enjoyable-but Haruhi appears immune to his flattery, so I wouldn't worry."

I should take my own advice.

We lingered a moment, both watching her as she moved efficiently about the kitchen. "I don't know…" he mused.

"Tamaki's harmless," I assured him. "I believe his confession earlier was sincere. He cares about her as we all do. He just wants to protect her."

"If you say so, Kyoya-kun," he conceded. "But I don't like him!" he remarked, turning up his feminine nose. A yawn stretched across his features once again.

"You should really get some rest, Ranka-sama. I'll make sure Haruhi is settled before my… ride… arrives."

"Thank you, Kyoya-kun." He turned to slide open a shoji door. "Such a good boy… "

I pulled my cell from my pocket, but paused when I saw Haruhi enter the room intent on clearing away the luncheon dishes. Putting it away for now, I came up beside her. "Here, let me help you with that."

"That's okay, Kyoya-sempai," she said as we began loading dishes onto the tea tray. "I've got it."

"And I'm happy to help," I assured her, surprised that it was true. We worked in companionable silence for a few moments before she asked, "What did my father want?"

How to answer that? "He just wanted to be sure you were safe at the host club activities." Close enough.

"And what did you tell him?" she made a wry smile, meeting my eyes as I lifted the tray laden with bowls and tea cups.

"That we are all quite terrified of your temper," I teased, following her back to the kitchen. "We wouldn't dare get on your bad side."

"Hmph," she grunted, but quirked a half-smile.

She set the teapot down on the grayish laminate countertop next to a sink filled with sudsy water. I placed the tray next to it, brushing her bare arm with mine. I turned my back to the counter, leaning against it and crossing my ankles in a relaxed pose. Haruhi began washing the dishes with practiced ease.

"Was that one of your mother's recipes?" I asked.

She stopped mid-teacup and looked up at me.

I answered the question on her face. "You mentioned in host club one time that you enjoyed re-creating her recipes."

"You don't miss much, do you?"

I waited, trapped by her large brown eyes.

"It was a variation," she said, turning back to her task. "I usually change it up depending on what's on sale."

"Which is often whatever produce is in season," I observed. "That would make for the best flavor. Very clever."

"I never thought of it that way," she muttered.

"Well, I appreciate you sharing it with us. "

"Don't tell the others, okay, but it was kind of fun today."

I watched her small hands pluck a bowl from the water and swish a cloth around it. I had never actually seen our staff doing dishes. Ever. It felt restful just being here with her and watching her perform this simple task. Haruhi broke into my thoughts. "I can never tell what you're thinking."

Though her eyes were trained on the dishes she handled, she probably knew I had been staring. "I was wondering how you would feel visiting our homes."

"If they're anything like Ouran Academy I think I would freak out."

"What do you mean?"

"Ouran is so… grandiose, you know. It's all huge spaces and fancy chandeliers and," she shot me a sly sidelong look, "priceless vases."

My half-chuckle acknowledged a point scored.

"I feel completely out of place there, like I'm some sort of lower form of life just because I'm not rich like the rest of you."

Ouch.

"But being rich isn't important to you," I confirmed.

"No, not at all." She grabbed a tea towel from beside the drying rack stacked with dripping tableware and wiped the moisture from her hands. She peered up at me thoughtfully.

"I don't know, Haru-chan, I think you may find yourself living in a rather grand home one day."

A flush rose up her neck and to her cheeks. She ground out, "I didn't come to Ouran to find a rich husband." Her gaze shot daggers at me.

"Whoa, that's not what I meant." I held my hands defensively in front of me. "You're planning to become a lawyer, right?"

She nodded her head slowly, knitting her brow. Probably wondering how I knew.

"Well, with your ambition and intelligence, I have little doubt that you will not only achieve your goal, but I expect you will be very successful in your profession. "

Her eyebrows lifted in surprise, whether at my prediction or at the casual admission of my respect for her, I wasn't sure.

"Of course," I continued quickly, "Knowing you, you'll probably take on mostly hard luck cases." I looked to heaven and sighed in mock regret. "Fight for justice and stand up for the downtrodden… " I trailed off, gesturing dismissively.

Light bubbled up inside me and a pleased grin spread across my face as I turned toward her.

A devious smile twisted her lips in answer. "Or maybe I'll become a corporate lawyer and sue the pants off you," she challenged.

"A tantalizing prospect," I smirked.

Her face reddened and I couldn't help but laugh.

Still smiling I cupped her jaw in one hand and stroked her warmed cheek with my thumb. "You blush too easily. It's why we can't resist teasing you."

Her upturned gaze met mine, and our eyes did that locked-in-a-trance thing. My thumb still moved of its own accord.

I snapped out of it and looked away, dropping my hand to reach for my cell. "I should call my driver."

And with that one word, her eyes shuttered. I was the spoiled rich kid again.

She went to wipe down the table while I placed the call.

I was snapping it closed again when she returned and wrung out the dishcloth. "He'll be here in a few minutes," I said, downplaying the distance that separated our homes. "Is there anything else I can help you with? I promised your father I'd make sure you're taken care of."

She shot me an aggravated look, but only said, "I'm fine. I just have some studying to do."

I took hold of the doorknob, tossing over my shoulder, "No more trips to the supermarket today?"

"I don't think I could face my neighbors again." She followed me out onto the landing. A fresh breeze gusted, running invisible fingers through our similarly dark tresses.

I grasped the railing in one hand and took in the street below us. "You don't have to wait with me," I said, aware that she had stepped up beside me. "I can take care of myself too." I inclined my head toward her with a knowing look.

She shot me an annoyed glance but answered in a normal tone of voice. "That's okay. It's nice out and I don't have that much work left. I just said that to get those guys out of here."

She put both hands on the railing, watching girls down the street play some sort of commoner's game. The breeze played with the hem of her pink sundress.

"I can't help but notice," I began. "You seem personally affronted by the fact that our families are… wealthy. Yet you know very little about our lives. Do you assume that money, as they say, buys happiness?"

"No, it's not like that." She considered a moment. "It's just at school, and even at the host club sometimes, everyone acts like they're…" Her eyes looked upward, searching for the word. "Like they're entitled. They didn't do anything to deserve their easy lives, but they act like they have. And like they're special just because they have lots of money in their wallets."

We ruminated on this for a minute.

"You know the twins' story already." I said. "Their family is very influential, and yet the two of them were almost completely alone all their lives. And Tamaki…" She looked at me curiously. I readjusted my glasses and looked down the street again. "Well, I'll leave it to him to tell, but he has also faced some unhappy circumstances."

She looked surprised at this. To be honest, Tamaki's ability to rise above the slights of his family and the awful separation imposed upon him was one of the things I truly admired about him.

She seemed to process the fact that I wouldn't offer more on Tamaki. "And you?" she asked.

Now it was my turn to be surprised. I hadn't anticipated her turning the question on me. Careless.

"I… " This was harder than expected. "My family… "

I stared down the street at the children playing. "I am the third son of the Ootori line."

She snorted, "Line."

I suppose it did sound pretentious. "Yes," I drawled, giving her an appraising look. "That's exactly how it is. I have my place and it is my duty to uphold the name by fulfilling what is expected of me."

"That sounds cold," she observed.

"Mmm." I looked away but didn't deny it. My eyes landed on a black luxury sedan gliding toward us.

"That's my ride…"

"I wouldn't have guessed," she broke in.

I stood to my full height and faced her. "Thank you for your hospitality," I intoned.

I felt her gaze on my back as I descended the stairwell. Closing the car door behind me, I saw Haruhi lingering in the same spot as we pulled away from the humble building. She couldn't see me behind the tinted window, but her brown eyes shone softly in what looked almost like pity.