Just a reminder, I still don't own Ouran. Only the Quints and Kyle. Plus a few more OCs...

"Does he ever learn?" Kyoya muttered under his breath after I had reminded Ueda-san of his girlfriend. His frustration was understandable given what happened before this incident. Ever since his girlfriend dragged him out of the Host Club (causing a big scene that has affected our sales) Kyoya has become irritable around him.

Our. Since when did I begin thinking of myself as part of their group? It must have been when Tamaki pleaded with me to make peace with Kyoya, using the excuse that he was 'extended family.' And stupidly, I assured the excitable blond that I would work on being kinder to Kyoya. If I was being truthful, I found his company to be less irritating lately.

"Some boys never learn I suppose," I answered in the same tone. "Not everyone can share your 'common sense.'" I hope he didn't notice the slight tilt in my voice that would suggest that my comment was not a compliment. This morning he was sorely lacking some; we had been working on our side project, the one that helped his companies get the supplies they needed that my father was stupidly withholding. Even if he was holding a grudge, he had absolutely no morals to be withholding medical supplies for so long. Kyoya had attempted to call the port before I reminded him that he had me and I had contacts that could "forget" to keep back the supplies.

And yet he still had the gall to ask if I would host again.

Speaking of common sense, it would seem that my sister has acquired some. Thankfully she seemed to be keeping a respectable distance from Kaoru.

At least at the moment, she was; who knew how she had been the other part of today? I hope she has been careful.

From my side, I could see him stiffen momentarily before regaining composure. Oh, he did notice. He shifted and leaned in toward me, his lips stopping just a few centimeters from my ear. "If you are still angry about this morning could you at least be satisfied that I do not behave like Tamaki?"

The thought of Kyoya acting anything like Tamaki made me smile. I nodded my agreement and tilted my head slightly to respond so I could reduce the risk of his lips coming in contact with any part of my face. He was standing much closer than I had anticipated and I was lucky not to accidentally bump into him.

"I was never angry. Just slightly annoyed. I had no idea you were so eager to have me participate in Host Club activities outside of school functions." I replied coolly as I glanced over to the hallway where I last saw my sisters walking. They were both looking back at me with wide-eyed expressions. They should be hurrying considering the importance of tonight. I gestured with a small nod for them to keep walking. "In any case, should we try to finish our project before-" I trailed off as I remembered that Host Club is canceled for today.

"Did you forget that it's canceled for today?" He asked with a hint of amusement in his tone. "I would think that you of all people wouldn't forget such a 'fortunate' change of plans."

"I could do without the attitude, Otori." I warned, giving him a sharp look to match my tone. "I have a lot to do and will continue to have much to do so you springing these plans on me is not a welcome-"

"Oww!" One of the twin's exclamations of pain prevented me from finishing my thought. "Kaoru!"

I rolled my eyes and pulled out my phone. "We should try to leave soon. If I remember correctly, there is traffic around this time."

Kyoya nodded his agreement and gestured ahead of us. "Ladies first."

Oooo, was that sass I detected? Two can play that game. "Seems as if you finally decided to behave like a gentleman."

"I suppose you were trying to insinuate that I do not act like one." Kyoya's lips turned up into a smirk and for once there wasn't a glare obstructing the view of his gray eyes. I knew this because they were currently staring into mine in some of the most...alluring way that I have ever experienced. My stomach dropped, has he always looked like this? "My guests would say differently."

Do his guests find his gray eyes this fascinating? Is that why they fall over themselves to get his attention? He never paid them any mind outside of club activities, was their behavior the secret to him finally taking his attention off of me? And why was he so close?

I narrowed my own eyes, stepped away, and replied, "Well I don't pay you to be a gentleman to me, so it makes sense that you wouldn't attempt to behave like one unless you wished to." Or I could continue to be hostile and sarcastic despite him actually being nice to me.

"Has anyone told you that you are extremely difficult to get along with?"

"Are you trying to tell me that?" I questioned absent-mindedly as I checked my phone. "Because you would be the seventh person to inform of this and yet the first six still are able to associate with me without a problem."

"Your siblings and father I suppose?"

My fingers stilled and I slowly lowered my phone. "No, I was referring to my financial adviser." I needed to stop reacting so much at the mention of my father. Being scared of him, even in name was not going to help me. Changing the subject and resuming my typing, I tried to sound casual, "I thought we were going to your home?"

"Are you going to be disappearing off with Akito again?" Kyoya asked lightly. I may or may not have led him to believe that my father was forcing my hand in getting to know his brother better. This was true, in a way, considering my father's actions were making me act as underhanded as him. But I thought Kyoya believed my father had ordered me to make myself more tempting to his brother.

I didn't know which I would prefer to tell him if he asked me. I would lie of course, but both reasons still felt awful to me. Thankfully he hasn't asked.

"Just for a moment," I assured him with a slightly apologetic note in my voice. "I am sorry to be taking up our allotted project time, but..."I trailed off to allow Kyoya to draw his own conclusions.

He narrowed his eyes by a fraction but did not prompt me to continue. "Understood. This time I would appreciate it if you didn't leave the house without alerting me."

"I am sorry about that. My father had called me away suddenly for pressing matters and when I tried to find you, your brother insisted on me spending the rest of my time with him." I shuddered slightly. "Trust me when I say I would have rather spent my time with you."

He straightened at my words, though I didn't see why that would reassure him. "I see."

I doubt he did understand but I'd allow him to think as he pleased. "Yes, well shall we go? Our project is due in two weeks."

"We are walking in that direction would you like to walk faster?" He sounded very patronizing and I was not enjoying his tone one bit. I already felt on edge and he was not making the situation any better.

"Seriously Otori? I know that most of our classmates are fine with completing things at the last possible moment but I am not. I had assumed you were the same but-"

"Kobayashi-san you are acting strangely." Kyoya gently pulled me to a stop. "Usually you keep your hostility a little better concealed than now."

Even the softest grip had me shaking, could he feel that? I pulled back instantly and crossed my arms. It had been weeks since my father had laid a hand on me yet I was still uneasy with anyone touching me. "Sorry," I mumbled as I struggled to keep my composure.

'He's not being aggressive, and he's able to see that I am uncomfortable,' I tried to tell myself as I slowly but surely calmed myself. I was incredibly tired of dancing around the truth so I decided to be as candid as possible "I am a little anxious to be quite honest and exhausted."

He regarded me carefully before offering, "Would you feel better if we stopped for dinner before going to my home? You did say you could eat when we exited our last class."

More time to relax would probably be best as I did not want to see his brother just yet. However unpleasant it was to spend time in his company, he wasn't the reason for my unease. Akito had let it slip the other day that their hospital systems digitized their files recently and that he was working from home more and more. If I could gain access, I could search for Suyuri's mother and finally see if her birth record matched what I found in my father's files. I wasn't sure how to get it yet but it was making me anxious. "I...I would appreciate that."

Kyoya nodded, easily taking the information in stride. "Then where would you like to eat?"

"Anywhere really," I told him with a small and grateful smile before turning my attention back to my phone. "Surprise me."

He nodded deeply, almost like a bow. "I will do my best." So it was settled and we headed out the doors of the school to the limo area.

Just then my cell phone buzzed and I had a pretty good guess who it was.

"This is Kobayashi," I answered as Kyoya opened the limo door for me. I gave him a wondering look but nodded my thanks before slipping in.

"Sair-sair, she asked about the funds! I told you it was a bad idea to talk to her." He paused for a short moment before starting to speak again. "She says that she'll give her the allowance for the rest of the year and then tell her the money dried up."

"Hmm." Well, that took longer than I expected. Though I was expecting a harsher punishment than that. Still, it was unacceptable and I quickly asked, "You played along with whatever she said right?"

He sounded almost offended as he answered, "Of course I did. And my wife thinks I'm a jerk so you got me in trouble with her. Plus my little girl heard me acting like your bastard of a father!"

My shoulders stiffened, especially since Kyoya had entered the limo.

"Sara?" Kyle asked when I didn't reply right away. I shook my head and gestured to the phone, which led him to nod and take out his own.

I waited until Kyoya seemed to be preoccupied with his own phone before I quietly and coolly responded. "Next time take the call in the study. I doubt you sounded too much like him. Trust me, you couldn't possibly come close."

Kyle's response was rushed and apologetic and I could sense his frustration growing. "Sara, I'm sorry. I'm just frustrated with your seeming lack of good judgment. I don't know what you're trying to accomplish and it's stressing me out. You don't think I know he's a monster? I'm terrified that he'll forget your agreement with him and lash out at you when he's feeling stressed."

"You just need to trust me, Kyle. And I'll explain everything to Julia if we get to that point. And I am sorry that Mia or Kiki overheard you." And I was sorry about that. It was bad enough that I had to deal with a father who yelled and spoke sharply. Kyle was an absolute prince to his daughters and I couldn't stand the thought of them fearing him.

"No, Sara I am an asshole. I should have been more..."

But I quickly cut him off as Kyoya looked to be finishing up whatever he was doing on his phone. "I believe the word you're looking for is kinder, but I understand your frustration. I promise I'll explain as soon as she calls."

"As soon as who calls?" He demanded immediately.

I frowned and said my next sentence as quietly as possible as I watched for the level of Kyoya's interest. "Well, I need to confirm something before I know what to call her." I fully expect a phone call from her soon. "Keep me posted Kyle." Then I hang up and meet Kyoya's eyes.

"Kyle again?"

"He is my adviser." I remind him before tucking my phone back into my pocket. "And have you decided on a location?"

Now that I have this bit of news I am tempted to forgo the stop and just demand the files from his brother, but Kyoya was being courteous enough to cut more into the time we have left for our project just to make me feel more comfortable. I knew I constantly argued with him and complained about him but he did have his moments of kindness.

"I have." He answered as the limo pulled forward and sent my bag flying toward him. He managed to catch it as I grabbed the strap.

"Are you okay?" We asked each other in unison.

"Why are you asking me when it was my bag that flew at you?" I stifled a laugh. "I'm sorry, I don't mean to laugh."

The corners of his lips quirked up as he tossed the bag back to me. "It's fine. My reflexes are working well today." I covered my mouth to keep myself from laughing again and this time he smiled as he pointed his phone at me. "And if you make a jab about how my reflexes usually aren't so good, then I'll cancel our reservation."

"How could I when you said it yourself?" I waved my hands and shook my head. "Sorry, please tell me where you decided."

He raised an eyebrow but answered, "the Red Room, have you heard of it?"

Had I heard of it? Of course I had, it was one of the most famous of the new restaurants in Tokyo. And it was nearly impossible to get a reservation unless you had social status or wealth. Because of that fact, it was also crawling with reporters.

If I was seen with Kyoya there, the Suohs might become suspicious of how close we were and that could potentially derail the engagement's timeline. Our families were still discussing the terms, and any possible misstep could take away our negotiating power. That would make my father extremely angry.

This time my smile felt forced. "Sounds perfect."

Sorry for the wait, but I've been busy. I hope the next one will come out quicker but no promises.

Same issue as always, tons of work especially for all these exams I thought would be a good idea to take. There's just not enough time for writing, so don't expect more soon.

Tell me what you think in a review! :)