Chapter 01

What Father Wants

- Now -

"Haru-chan, Haru-chan, you look tired." Mitsukuni stated before it was time to serve their customers. "Did you get any sleep during last night?" He held Bun-Bun tightly.
The natural Host Club member rubbed her eyes, "no, not really, don't worry."
"Haruhi, you should've went bed before the thunderstorm!" Tamaki wailed.
She blushed faintly in embarrassment, "h-how could I, y-you kept calling."
"…" Hikaru tensed in high annoyance of his rival.
"Hikaru… three minutes…" Kaoru reminded.

"Shall I assume you don't want to host today?" Kyouya questioned.

Everyone turned to the Host Club's vice president, shocked in what he just asked, but Haruhi was so tired that she didn't react as badly, "what about my debt?"
"You can do chores around the room, serve tea and whatnot." He stated.
"So I don't have to dress up?" Haruhi asked, curiously about the strings attached.
"No, and if you don't want to do chores, then you should go home and sleep."
"…who are you, and what did you do with Kyouya-senpai?" She scowled tiredly.
The shadow king smiled and closed his notebook, "I expect you to be energized for tomorrow's hosting, we don't need the rates going down because of you."

'Figures…' Her head slumped, "okay, okay." She got up and stretched upwards to the ceiling, "I might as well stay to help out my debt, maybe I'll wake up a little more."

"Ne, ne," the twins went to her sides, "want to go make cookies or cake?"
"No," Haruhi walked away and began making tea and coffee for the hosts and girls.
"If everything is solved," Kyouya pushed his glasses up, "shall we greet our guests?"
"Oh! Let our wonderful guests enter our realm of beauty!" Tamaki smiled.
'…T-Tamaki-senpai you idiot…' Haruhi blushed and started to prepare the trays.

The customers began piling in one by one and as usual, Haruhi's childhood friend clung to Haruhi happily. Haruhi jumped in a startled manner but laughed tiredly which worried her friend Sayuri. They began talking and ending up making coffee and tea together and began passing them around.

"Haru-chan, I want to come with you on Friday, I hope it's okay," Sayuri frowned.
She smiled warmly, "I don't mind, it'll be a great opportunity for us to be together."
"…" Without them knowing, everyone had stopped and listened to them.
"I tried to ask Arai-kun, but he didn't answer." Sayuri looked like she was crying.
"No, the two of us are plenty for the trip, Dad too." Haruhi smiled.

"I wanna go on a trip with Haruhi!" Tamaki raised his hand happily.
Haruhi looked at him. "N-No… t-thank you… Richard."
"WAH!!! Don't say my French middle name!!!" He blushed.
She smiled lightly with a blush and looked away, "s-sorry."
The president looked at her frowning, "…"

"Aw, Haru-chan, you don't want them to come?" Sayuri frowned.
Her childhood friend looked at her, "it's too bothersome for them to come."
"You know we make room in our schedule for you, how long will the visit be?"
Kyouya asked curiously, prepared to take notes down if needed.
She looked away, "you don't have to come, it's not a big deal to you guys."
"True, but it's a big deal to you, therefore a great deal to us," he replied.
"Why can't you just stay out of my business, you're like a shadow, …always stalking!"

Everyone gasped at what she said to Kyouya, but she was tired and becoming upset because it was obvious that he knew. Kaoru nudged at Hikaru and motioned him to take a chance to do something, so he listened to the young twin. Hikaru got up and walked to Haruhi and Sayuri with his hands in his pockets to keep himself cool.

"Um, I know you're supposed to be doing chores, but," Hikaru tried to avoid the urged to blush and avert his attention, "how about a quick walk in the courtyard?"
"Yay!" Sayuri cheered happily for the great idea.
"Yay…" Haruhi weakly smiled at the offer.
"We'll be back." Hikaru smiled to everyone, and they left.

"It's not any of my business, but… you seem more upset than tired." Hikaru spoke.
"I just don't want to trouble you guys with it, that's all." Haruhi replied, sitting at the fountain where she once sat with Ritsu while feeding the small bird.
Sayuri thought she should explain, "um… this Friday…" but she could not.

"I'll explain tomorrow." The natural one stated, easing the tension between her and her friends, "after class, but before the customers appear at the Host Club."
"Haru-chan," she smiled, "I'll come help you."
Hikaru smiled and looked at Haruhi, "whatever it is, can me and Kaoru come?"
Haruhi looked at him, "shouldn't you be doing something else?"
"Nah, we always have time for you, no matter what." He grinned.
"Me too!" Sayuri clung to her happily.

Haruhi smiled happily to them both, "thank you."
"Haru-chan, you're so cute!" She squealed.
"Ready to go back inside Haruhi?" Hikaru asked.
"Okay, I'm ready," Haruhi got up, "let's go."
"Yeah," her friends replied in unison humorously.

The three held hands with Haruhi in the middle and they went up to the Third Music Room where the others were serving the snacks and other things. Hikaru left the two be and returned to his brother, apologizing for being away so long, but Renge jumped on them and began asking about their relationship with Haruhi. She wanted a better reply than when the twins were fighting over Haruhi, and already the twins blushed lightly and said that they didn't know, causing the customers to squeal.

Tamaki kept glancing over at Haruhi, wondering what all was going on with her, but hoped that she would tell them soon. It was not like her to keep herself closed off from them, but if it is something that would get her so easily upset, he would lay off. Since Haruhi's friend was pestering her happily, he did not need to worry all that much.

"So you don't plan on telling them?" Kyouya spoke from behind her.
"Haru-chan said he'd tell tomorrow," Sayuri said, careful about her gender.
"I guess I don't mind the company, she'd be happy about it." Haruhi stated.

"Well then, shall I make preparations for umi no hi (ocean day), it will give us a three day weekend, enough to satisfy the Host Club members and customers that you're actually fine." Kyouya placed things in his notebook.

"Umi no hi, ne?" Haruhi sighed, "are we going to Nekozawa-senpai's place again?"
"No, my vacation villa isn't booked." He stated calmly while adding nothing but a minor detail, "you don't mind hosting though do you, Haruhi?"
"It sounds refreshing, the beach that is." She smiled lightly, "yeah, it sounds nice."
"But, we should keep tono away from Haruhi or they'll fight again." Hikaru stated.
"Ah, we don't need the third demon emerging from beneath." Kaoru smiled.
"Eek!" Tamaki remembered the horror of Haruhi being a demon.

To taunt them, Haruhi turned to give them a glare, "Kaoru, did you say something?"

The two twins screamed and held each other, terrified of that familiar glare that had once forced them to do labor work at the penthouse just because they wanted to protect Tamaki. Speaking of the president, he cowered on the sofa and hid from her while the two seniors paled in surprise to her see look so scary. All of the customers laughed at the reaction of the Host Club members and stated that if Kyouya could not keep them in line, Haruhi would sure be able to.

And it was true.

"Haru-chan, are you done serving things?" Sayuri asked curiously.
"Yeah, just about, why?" She looked to her.
"Let's make cake, kay?" Her smile grew widely.
"Um… what type?" It was whispered in her ear, "no."
"Aww, Haru-chan, why?" Sayuri started to tear up.
"We'd have to make enough for the customers as well you know."

"But it's your favorite, you can't deny it!" She grinned, "I'll go start!"
"Wait a minute," Haruhi was too late, and sighed as she passed out coffee and tea.
"Haruhi-kun, she seems pretty fond of you." Momoka smiled a little nervously.
"Un, she's a childhood friend of mine." The natural smiled. "We played a lot when we were kids, Mom loved it when she would come over since I'm an only child."
She blushed; touched by the speech, "how sweet."
"Thank you." Her smile lightened and placed the empty tray away.

"Haru-chan, there's no strawberries! We need strawberries!" Sayuri called out.
"No customer can go in there only the members and manager!" Renge fumed.
"Renge-chan, calm down please." Haruhi pleaded lightly. "She means well."
She blushed from 'his' apology, "u-un."

"Haruhi and her friend are causing a commotion." Hikaru stated.
"Um, Hikaru, did Haruhi tell you what was going on?" Kaoru asked.
"No, but, we'll find out tomorrow." He replied.
"Haru-chan and Say-chan look cute together." Mitsukuni smiled.
"Okay," Takashi replied.

"Sayuri, y-you locked the doors on me! Hey!" Haruhi was becoming annoyed.
"Haru-chan can't help! I want to make it!" She called from the kitchen.
Her hand scratched her head, "a minute you want me to help, and now you don't…" she mumbled and then negotiate, "hey, how about we go to the movies after school."
The door opened and Sayuri looked at her, "can we make some later then?"
"Okay, okay, Dad would probably want some too." She sighed.
"Kay, but only the two of us, it's a date! I'll be at your place at 6!" Sayuri left.

Kyouya was behind Haruhi now, speaking, "Haruhi's first date with a girl."
She jumped with a blush and looked at him, "K-Kyouya-senpai!"
"Two boys, one girl." He placed the information down in his notebook with interest and offered, "you should be our natural bisexual host."

Before Haruhi could reply, Renge jumped at her, "you've been out on a date with two guys?! Was Casanova-kun one of them?! Was Hikaru-kun or Kaoru-kun one?!"
"…eh…?" Haruhi backed away and an arm went on her shoulders.
"Sorry, but our club members don't have to answer that." Kyouya stated.
Now she was getting annoyed and shrugged him off, "I change my mind, the Host Club can't come on Friday." She went to grab her stuff.

"Eh?! B-But Haruhi! You said me and Kaoru can come!" Hikaru frowned.
"How about you call me tonight, ne? Bye." Haruhi waved and left.
"Wah!!! Kyouya!!! You made Haruhi run away!!!" Tamaki whined.
"Actually, Sayuri-san just wants Haruhi to have company," Kyouya stated, closing his notebook, "Haruhi is going to visit someone very dear."

"Someone dear?" Mitsukuni wondered.

"Haru-chan, you're being mean to your friends." Sayuri stated with a frown.
"I don't like troubling them, they do a lot for me already." She replied.
"Haruhi-hime, ne?" They giggled, walking away from the theaters.
"Sayuri…" Haruhi sighed and placed her hands in her pockets.
"You look like a boys," she rustled her hair, "how cute."
Her hand swatted her hand away lightly, "stop it."

"Ne, ne, let's go to the park!" Sayuri grabbed her hand before she could refuse.

The Host Club had been constantly following the two girls everywhere they went, including to the movies. It was getting on Kyouya's nerve that he would not be able to get any proper sleep tonight with them doing this. Tamaki on the other hand wanted to investigate and wonder what they were doing together.

"Sayuri," Haruhi called out, slowly swinging herself on the swing, "you don't have to try so hard, I'm not upset or anything about Friday, I'm used to it."
"Haru-chan needs fun." Her childhood friend replied, swinging the opposite way.
"Your just like them," she complimented with a light laugh, "always worrying."
"We all love Haru-chan!" Sayuri grinned, extending her hand to her happily.
Smiling, she took her hand, "weirdo."

They laughed together while still holding hands, swing in unison though looking in opposite directions. Sayuri began to hum a tune and Haruhi joined in quietly, causing the club to watch in surprise. After all, they have never seen her interact with another girl that knew her little gender secret.

"We better head back now. I might get into trouble soon." Sayuri stated.
"You dragged me here, and now you have to leave, that's like you." She replied.
"We'll make a cake soon though, I promise." Her voice cheered.

"I knew you two would be here." A voice called out.
The two look, and Haruhi was surprised, "Dad?"
"Come on you two, it's late." Ryouji walked away.
"Okay," the left the swings and followed hand in hand.

"Haru-chan," Sayuri whispered.
"Hmm?" Her friend looked at her.
"You know what would be funny?" She coaxed.
"What?" Haruhi looked at her.
"If all the guys in the Host Club liked you, as in love-love!"

"EH?!?!" She panicked at the indecent thought of her friend.

Kyouya entered the estate and was about to go up the stairs but heard a flip of the page and knew who it was. He went into the kitchen to see his father there at the table reading a newspaper quietly. His father glanced at him and then flipped the page once more before deciding to speak to him.

"So it's as predicted?" Yoshio questioned.
"Okay, she agreed to going to the summer villa." He replied.
Again, he flipped a page, "I see, so you've booked it I assume."
"Yes Father." Kyouya answered. "We leave on Saturday."

"I see," Yoshio flipped another page before replying, "good."

With their conversation short as usual, Kyouya excused himself and took a nice hot shower before placing on his pajamas and heading off to bed. He was tired of the commoners world and wanted some decent sleep, at least about five hours. Luckily, he finished all his homework before being sent on the stupid expedition of stalking.

Kyouya smirked, remembering that Haruhi called him a shadow for stalking, "I suppose it's an interesting opinion in its' own way."

"I wonder what it is that Haruhi isn't telling us." Kaoru asked quietly.
"She said she would tell us tomorrow." Hikaru stated.
"But… tomorrow's Thursday, after that is whatever has us worried."
"I think it's something big, but we know her pretty well…" He replied.

"Well, we might as well go to sleep." The younger twin got up and waved, "goodnight."

With the two having their own separate rooms now as Kaoru wanted, the two went to sleep for the next day to come. Hikaru though, was going to take a little longer to get to his dreamland because his mind was on Haruhi. He always thought about her now that Kaoru had pointed it out to him a while ago, and also pointing out his rival.

"Hmm…" Mitsukuni looked around his room, looking for something.

He had been searching around his room for quite a while now, wondering where he placed a certain object that he was looking for. Yasuchika was getting annoyed because his older brother left his doors opened wide enough to hear him. Not that he really cared of anything, he knocked on the door twice before entering the room.

"Mitsukuni, what are you doing?" Yasuchika crossed his arms.
"Ah, Chika-chan," Mitsukuni replied without looking, "I'm looking for something that I gave give Haru-chan tomorrow! But I can't find it!"
"Haru-chan…" he tried to remember, "the girl that looks like a guy?"
Pausing for the moment, he looked at him, "um…"
"It's pretty obvious, and annoying at the same time. Satoshi knew as well."
"Wah!!! Chika-chan!!! Don't tell anyone!!!" Mitsukuni begged.

"I don't care," he began to walk out, "it's not my business."

"Taka-nii, your meditating this late at night, is something bothering you?" Satoshi asked tiredly as he rubbed his eyes while waiting for a reply.

Takashi was meditating for a couple of hours while accidentally skipping dinner with his family. Piyo-chan and Tanuki-san were scurrying around the room playing around quietly so they would not disturb him. Realizing that he was meditating too much, he stood up and the two followed him about as he went to his little brother.

"No, I'm fine." Takashi patted his head.
"Um… Yasuchika called and told my Mitsukuni was looking for something for the girl in the Host Club, …uh, Fujioka-san, ne?" Satoshi looked at him.
"Ah, it's nothing to worry about." He started to walk away.
"I'll swing by with Yasuchika before clubs start, okay?"
"…?" Takashi looked at him curiously, though hard to notice.

"What? You're worried about your friend right? So I'll stop by to say hi! Never really got to talk to her myself, I just know she's impersonating a boy!" Satoshi grinned.

With that said, Satoshi walked off to his room happily, having new determination to talk to Takashi's lady friends. Takashi smiled lightly at his young brother's spirit and followed his idea to finally go to bed. All the lights were turned off in the estate, and everyone went into their own separate dream worlds.

"Tamaki… you're up pretty late, is something wrong?" A voice called out.
"D-Dad …" Tamaki spoke in surprise, petting Antoinette's head.
"What seems to be the problem?" Yuzuru asked curiously.
"Kyouya and Sayuri-san know something about Haruhi that I don't." He replied.
"Ah, it must have to do with Friday," already he knew, "she'll be absent that day, and I don't mind if you and the others join her as well."
"But I don't even know what's going on! She won't tell us till tomorrow!"

Yuzuru tried to think about it, wondering what he could say, but ended up giving him a small hint. "Let's just say that it's a family matter, alright?"
"…family matter?" Tamaki asked confusedly.
"Oh by the way, the freshman class decided on going to the Caribbean's for their field trip, it starts next week, I thought I would let you know." He stated.
"Un… Hikaru and Kaoru told me, but they don't want to go."

"Why?" Yuzuru pondered.

Tamaki shrugged, "I don't know, they won't tell me, and Hikaru keeps scowling at me," he thought about it, "I think it's because Haruhi can't go," then remembered, "but… their going anyways because Haruhi told them to enjoy themselves."

"Hmm, I see," he waved to his son, "goodnight."
"…un…" Tamaki sighed and laid down to sleep.