Another chapter!
In case you haven't already guessed I don't own OHSHC or its characters. If I did, I'd be in Hawaii with Kaoru (also maybe Kyouya), and not writing fanfics...

Hikaru lay on his brother's bed waiting for him to come out of the shower. He was still thinking about why Haruhi would accept a lift off Mori, but never them. He no longer fretted about the kiss. Any of them could kiss her anytime they wanted. For a heroine she was very passive. Hikaru had replayed the kiss in his mind so many times, looking for some kind of positive response in her, but he couldn't see any. Kaoru had agreed, but then he added that there was no negative response either. Whatever Mori had tried to stir in the girl had failed, but he had not given up. Hikaru thought this was unfair. Surely it was someone else's turn now.
Hikaru had only discovered his feelings towards the end of the summer, on their way home from another hosting weekend at the beach (Renge had made them a regular summer event). She had fallen asleep on him in the car. Hikaru felt this strong awareness of her, and wanted to pull her in closer, stroke her hair and keep her for himself. But then he realised he was in a car full of hosts, who would probably also like to keep Haruhi for themselves. His brother included. That night after much discussion the twins decided they would let the girl choose between them. Because regardless of which brother she chose (if one at all), Haruhi would still become a permanent part in both their lives.

Haruhi tried to yank down the hem of her dress as far as it could go when she looked in the mirror. Despite it only ending a couple of inches above her knee she felt the dress was too short and impractical. The twins had put her in a simple black dress and strappy kitten heels (as she refused to wear anything higher). After their best efforts to work with her short thick hair they gave up and placed her in one of the model wigs. It was brown, with a full fringe and flowed down to her elbows. She liked the outfit, it was simple yet elegant. However she was very annoyed that the twins had disposed of the clothes she'd worn over. Sure they were from the thrift store, and a little plain, but they were comfortable.
"Ne, Haruhi. We cannot allow you to go out in public like that anymore" Hikaru told her as she inquired about the location of her khaki cut-offs and plain white t-shirt.
"Yeah, we'd be bad friends if we did that." Kaoru said as he admired the girl in more feminine clothing.
"I'm sure good friends don't trash their friend's clothes." she muttered as she fiddled with the wig.
"Yeah, yeah. Let's go downstairs before Tono thinks we've violated you or something…" Kaoru sighed. At this Haruhi chuckled, and headed downstairs to the other hosts. The twins shared a confused look. She never responded to that kind of talk before, apart from the occasional eye-roll or sigh.
"How odd." Kaoru observed under his breath.
"Hm." His brother agreed.

Things had been going very well for Haruhi as of late. Not only was she top of the class but she was ahead, asking for extra work and already practising for exams. Every day she could feel herself getting one step closer to becoming a lawyer. Maybe Mori could even give her a few tip offs about law school, if there was any books she could read or cases to research. She had much more free time than she'd ever had before, which was new to her. If this was a year ago, Haruhi would be annoyed she was missing study-time for a dinner with the rich bastards that had already taken up so much of her time, but now, she was rather excited.
And speaking of "rich bastards" she now truly felt a part of their group. Though she obviously lived a very different lifestyle than them, she found a different kind of connection to them all.
She could sympathise with Kyouya when he would drive Tamaki nuts with studying, she herself knew what it was like to constantly be under pressure to maintain the top grade. She also saw him for more than the villainous shadow king. He was the youngest son of a powerful man. So he can't be blamed if his ambition had made him calculating and cold.
Mori shared her lawyer dream, and her dislike for club drama, she also understood his relationship with Hani.
Tamaki was so similar to Ranka that the girl couldn't help but like him. Hani's positive attitude could get her through the most lagging club events.
As for the twins, Haruhi was the only one to have ever distinguished between them, and she felt a strange attraction towards them. Not because of their looks, but because they presented her with an exclusive key to their world. Though her common sense told her this would be an unhealthy move, she occasionally found herself entertaining the idea of joining them, merely out of curiosity.

As Haruhi had expected, dinner took place in a ridiculously lavish restaurant, in which one meal could pay for almost her entire weekly shop. Over dinner the hosts discussed numerous topics, only few of which Haruhi could sit through without repeatedly thinking "rich bastards" in her mind. During dessert Tamaki began raving about plans for a group holiday in the Winter, though his plans were far from realistic. He'd read somewhere about an army crossing the alps on elephants and this had somehow evolved into an Indian themed ski holiday. Haruhi and Kyouya rolled their eyes at each other while the twins encouraged the blond host to make his plans even more extravagant. Hani was too focused on his cake to join in and Mori simply sat silently, occasionally glancing at Haruhi.
Throughout the evening, Haruhi couldn't help but notice the many evil looks she was receiving from the female diners surrounding them. It was only when two incredibly made-up girls came over from another table that she understood why she appeared to be the most hated girl in the room.
"Hi, I'm Yuni, and this is my friend Sana, we were wondering if you boys" she glanced purposefully at Haruhi "would like some female company. We're going for drinks later if you'd like to join us…" she indicated to a table of giggling girls. Haruhi couldn't help but notice her suggestive tone and was rather offended that she did not count as "female company".
"No, thank you." Kyouya replied dismissively. "And if you were observant you would see that we already have some very beautiful female company" he looked at Haruhi "and I'm sure her presence alone could surpass that of you and your friends combined."
Yuni was obviously not accustomed to being rejected, she paused to see if the boy was serious about choosing this one plain girl over 7 scantily dressed, slightly tipsy girls, and then promptly walked back to her table, Sana tottering behind her.
"Ugh, total bitch." Hikaru muttered.
"Keba too" Kaoru sniggered.
"Are you okay Haruhi?" Mori asked.
"Yeah" she smiled and turned to the shadow king "Thanks, Kyouya."
"Being a gentleman is expected of an Ootori, but you're very welcome." He said matter-of-factly.
"It must be weird for you guys, getting approached by girls all the time." Haruhi mused.
"Ah, Haruhi, it is a small price to pay for our tragic good looks!" Tamaki replied, placing his hand against his forehead.
"Tragic is the right word for you…" Hikaru scoffed, causing his brother to burst into laughter.
"Mock all you want, I am still the host club king!" Tamaki retorted.

After dinner the hosts all shared one of Kyouya's cars (mainly to avoid arguments of who would take Haruhi home). By the time they reached the Suoh Mansion, only Kyouya, Tamaki and Haruhi remained.
"Tamaki, go home." Kyouya told the blond for the fifth time as he hovered in the car doorway.
"But really I should see she gets home safely…"
"That is why I am here."
"But what if somethi-" Tamaki was cut off as the Shadow King pushed him through the door and slammed it shut.
"Drive." He ordered into a microphone.

After 5 minutes Kyouya finally broke the silence.
"Did you enjoy dinner?" he asked.
"Very much, thank you." She smiled.
"I am terribly sorry about the rude girl, the diners at that establishment are usually more sophisticated, but you do occasionally get the spoiled rich girls."
"The girls at Ouran seem to be much kinder" she observed.
"That is because they think you are a boy. I'm sure if your secret got out you would see them for the self-centred, airheads they are." This threw the girl off.
"You don't talk very highly of those that share your status."
"I'm afraid it is rare to find rich girls with any substance to their character. They have nothing to work for; their male relatives are usually the heirs to their family business, and the majority end up marrying wealth. Few girls want to work to deserve the family business, not when they're given the opportunity to live comfortably without effort. I am glad I no longer have to marry one."
"I thought your father was going to arrange your marriage?"
The car pulled up outside Haruhi's apartment before he could answer. Kyouya got out and opened the door for Haruhi, and proceeded to walk her to her door.
"On the contrary Haruhi, my father has now given me the opportunity to choose my own bride. So I am currently on the search." He paused, contemplating something. "Subsequently, I hope you don't mind me stealing a kiss."
In a business-like fashion, Kyouya placed his hand under her chin, tilting it upward. He leaned in, the kiss was hard, yet tender, and was over rather promptly. He waited for some kind of reaction to no avail, and finally said "I would appreciate if you take the time to think that over, Haruhi." His hand still lingered under her chin, his eyes looking straight into hers. "I'll see you tomorrow at club. Good night." He smiled in a way that Haruhi could only describe as smug, and then walked down to his car, leaving Haruhi utterly confused.

Okay guys, I'm taking your reviews into account, but I do enjoy exploring other pairings as you can see.
How's it going? Reviews are golden!
I haven't been on here in a while, so sorry it's not as clearly structured as the usual content.
Thanks for reading :) xx