Chapter 1

Riiing.

Riiing.

Kyouya didn't even glance at the phone, knowing Ms. Tento would be answering it from her desk outside his office.

"Mr. Ootori?" chirped the secretary's voice from the speaker.

Kyouya's hands paused over the keys of his laptop, but he didn't look away from the screen as he reached toward the phone.

"Yes, Ms. Tento?" he replied, hitting the speaker button.

"Mr. Suoh is on line one for you. He seems rather excited about something, but I couldn't understand most of what he was talking about."

Kyouya almost told her to tell Tamaki he was in a meeting, but he quickly threw the idea out, knowing when Tamaki was excited about something, it was best to deal with him sooner rather than later. One way or another, Tamaki would track him down and he'd have to hear about it anyway, along with explaining to Tamaki why he wasn't able to contact him right away.

Kyouya closed his eyes. Now, what could Tamaki be this excited about? Surely it wasn't...

Kyouya sighed, feeling a headache forming. Yes, it would be that, wouldn't it?

"I'll take it. Thank you," he told her, picking up the phone. He hit line one, greeting his best friend in his normal, cool tone, "Tamaki."

"MOTHER!"

Kyouya winced and held the phone a good foot away from his ear to keep from behind deafened. Even though it had been years since they and the other Host Club members had graduated from Ouran, all the old names had stuck, much to Kyouya's annoyance and occasional amusement.

"THIS IS GOING TO BE THE MOST AMAZING THING IN AGES! OH MOTHER, TO SEE THE WHOLE FAMILY BACK TOGETHER AGAIN! YOU'LL NEVER GUESS HOW TOO! YOU'LL NEVER GUESS WHAT--"

"Tamaki," Kyouya interrupted him sternly. "Lower your voice. I know full well what you're going to say and the answer is no."

There was a split second of silence before Tamaki replied, voice down several octaves.

"But, Mother, you didn't even let me tell you anything!" he complained.

"Doesn't matter," Kyouya replied, deadpan. "I know all about it. If you hadn't already guessed, I received the same e-mail you did."

"WHA--?!"

Kyouya sighed slightly. "In fact, all of the old Host members received the same general e-mail this morning."

"They have?" Tamaki asked, excitement back in his voice. "Then they're all--"

"Completely uninterested."

Kyouya could almost see the pouting puppy-dog eyes Tamaki was giving the phone.

"Might I remind you, Tamaki," he continued, still deadpan, "That giving an inanimate object the puppy-dog eyes has absolutely no effect on it whatsoever."

He heard Tamaki sigh dejectedly. "Are you sure that no one's interested?"

Kyouya leaned back in his chair. "Positive. Each of them called me after they got their version of the e-mail, and all felt it would be a waste of time, to put all their reasons rather broadly."

"Mother," said Tamaki seriously. "This is totally unacceptable! Our children can't defy us like this! Father won't stand for it!"

"What do you mean 'defy us'? If I recall, I quite clearly told you no as well."

"Mother!" gasped Tamaki. "This is serious! We must have a unified front when we confront the children!"

"Tamaki," said Kyouya as patiently as he could. "No is no. There is no 'us' here. If you want to talk the others into doing this, then talk to them, but don't get me involved. Understand?"

"But... but... Mother!"

"No, Tamaki. Goodbye."

Kyouya hung up the phone, paused that way for a moment, and hit the speaker button.

"Ms. Tento."

"Yes, sir?"

"Water and aspirin."

"Right away, sir."

Kyouya leaned back with a sigh. If he knew Tamaki, this was going to be a long day...

XXXXXXXXXX

Tamaki cradled the phone in one hand as he visited his corner of depression to grow mushrooms for a while.

XXXXXXXXXX

Haruhi's cell phone began ringing and she glanced up from the case files she was studying. She almost didn't answer when she saw the caller ID.

Almost.

'Better now than later when I'm doing something really important,' she reasoned, flipping it open.

"Hello," she muttered, holding back a sigh. She was immediately forced to pull the phone away from her ear.

"DAUGHTER! TELL ME MOTHER WAS LYING!"

"About what?" she asked, completely lost.

"THE CHALLENGE! TELL ME YOU'LL ACCEPT IT! WE MUST MEET THIS HEAD ON OR BE DISGRACED FOREVER! LOST IN THE SHAME OF OUR OWN COWARDICE FOR THE REST OF OUR NATURAL LIVES!"

"Tamaki," she cut in, "Please calm down."

"HOW CAN I CALM DOWN?! UNTIL I HEAR WITH MY OWN EARS THAT YOU WILL BRAVELY FACE THIS INSULT TO THE PRIDE OF THE HOST CLUB WITH YOUR FELLOW MEMBERS, I WILL NOT BE SILENCED!"

"Tamaki, unless you lower your voice, I'm hanging up."

Haruhi stared at the phone as Tamaki continued to loudly rant on the other end. She waited a moment, shook her head, and closed the phone.

Ten minutes later, her phone rang again. Cautiously, she answered it.

"Are you calmer?"

"Haruhi! I think we must have lost the connection! Are you alright?!"

"I'm fine," she replied, unable to keep from rolling her eyes. "What is it?"

"The challenge! The challenge!" he said grandly and Haruhi could just see him striking a pose.

"What challenge?"

"The one issued by the Host Club of course!" he replied as though it were the most obvious thing in the world.

"Huh?" Haruhi blinked. "Haven't you talked to Kyouya-sempai?"

"Of course I talked to Mother!" Tamaki cried.

"Then you should already know my answer. I won't do it, Tamaki."

"But you have to!"

"No, I don't. I'm a professional now, not a high school girl with a debt to pay off. Besides, I don't think I can pull off being a guy anymore."

"But you're the natural!" argued Tamaki.

"Regardless, I quite hosting when I graduated. End of story. I'm a busy lawyer now who doesn't have time to go answering silly challenges and reliving the past."

There was silence on the other end as Tamaki pouted.

"Tamaki," Haruhi patently pointed out, "Puppy-dog eyes don't have any effect over the phone."

"Ha~ru~hi~" the former king whined.

"The answer's still no. Now, I have work to do, so have a good day."

Haruhi shut the phone and went back to her case files.

XXXXXXXXXX

Miles away, Tamaki retreated to his corner of depression for the second time that day.

XXXXXXXXXX

Hikaru stepped back, crossing his arms as Kaoru leaned against him, putting a hand on his hip. Twin pairs of hazel eyes looked the model over, taking in the outfit and mostly ignoring her.

They sighed and chimed together what was on both their minds.

"It's just not right."

They looked at each other.

"Maybe we should just scrap the whole thing," Hikaru said with a frustrated frown.

Kaoru sighed slightly, glancing once more at their latest design. "I'm tempted to agree," he replied, "But I hate to do it."

Just then, Hikaru's cellphone began going off, playing a loud, obnoxious song both twins immediately recognized.

"Hm. Looks like Kyouya was right," said Hikaru, pulling the phone out of his pocket.

"When isn't he?" Kaoru shot back, leaning in to hear the conversation.

"Yo, tono," Hikaru greeted cheerfully.

"You two will do it, won't you?" demanded Tamaki.

"Do what?" asked Hikaru, feigning innocence.

"ACCEPT THE CHALLENGE!"

Hikaru winced, holding the phone away from his ear. Kaoru grinned at his twin and took the phone.

"Tono, there's no need to yell. Besides, we're not going to do it."

"WHAT?!"

"What did I just say about yelling?"

"But why not?"

Hikaru took the phone back.

"Listen, tono, we've got loads to do. We can't just pick up and leave."

"Besides," continued Kaoru, taking the phone back once more, "It doesn't sound very fun. After all, we could beat those kids with ease, so where's the challenge?"

"So you'll let this slap in the face go? Just like that? DON'T YOU CARE ABOUT THE PRIDE OF THE HOST CLUB?!"

The twins looked at each other, then both spoke into the phone.

"Nope!"

"WHAT?!"

"Sorry, tono."

"We're busy."

"Later!" they chimed before closing the phone.

They laughed.

"Tono never changes," said Kaoru as he turned back to the model.

"Still a foolish lord," agreed Hikaru.

They both paused, smiles still in place. Slowly, the smiles fell, their faces turning thoughtful, and they looked at each other. Those in the room saw the twin glints that entered the eyes of both brothers, followed by two identical, mischievous grins stretching across their faces.

"Now that," began Kaoru, gleaming.

"Might work," finished Hikaru, glowing.

As one, they turned back to the model.

XXXXXXXXXX

The mushrooms were beginning to spread dangerously far from the corner.

XXXXXXXXXX

"Mitsukuni."

The short blonde paused over his fallen opponent to look over at his cousin with a quizzical smile.

"What's up, Takashi?"

"Phone."

Honey dropped his fighting stance and bounced over to where the other was standing in the doorway.

"Is it Tama-chan?"

Mori nodded.

"K-k! Just like Kyo-chan said, ne?" He turned back to the others in the dojo with a bow, saying in english. "Please excuse me. I have a phone call."

He bounded out of the room to where his phone was sitting on top of his jeans. He picked it up with a huge grin.

"Tama-chan! Kyo-chan said you'd call!"

"Honey-sempai," came Tamaki's pleading voice. "You and Mori-sempai will help me, won't you? You wouldn't let this insult to the host club go so easily, would you?"

Honey's face fell and he sighed sadly. "Tama-chan, I really am sorry, but we can't do it. Takashi and I are training in America right now. We won't be back in Japan for at least a month. There's no way we could accept the challenge."

There was silence on the other end and Honey just knew that teary puppy dog eyes were staring at the phone. He felt his face fall a bit further.

"Tama-chan~" he whined in his cutest voice. "I'm so sorry~! We just can't do it!"

There was a bit of sniffling on the other end. Honey felt tears in his own eyes.

"Sorry Tama-chan!" he said, bravely holding them in check. Before he burst into tears, he handed the phone to Takashi.

"Sorry, Tamaki," the other said in his deep, even voice. "Take care." Mori closed the phone and looked at his shorter cousin. "Mitsukuni?"

Honey wiped his eyes on his sleeve and before meeting the other's gaze with a bright smile. "I'm good. Let's go back."

He spun away and Mori followed sedately.

XXXXXXXXXX

"Mr. Suoh?"

One of the teachers knocked tentatively on the Superintendent's door and cracked it open. She bit back a scream and it came out as a squeak as she saw the dark office, full of mushrooms. The Superintendent was in the far corner, sniffling quietly.

Quickly, the teacher closed the door and walked as fast as she could back the way she had come. Maybe she should just come back later.

In the office, Tamaki stared at the phone in his hand. There was only one other option then. As much as he hated the idea, he had to call...

Her.

XXXXXXXXXX

"Madam Houshakuji?"

Renge, lounging peacefully in a window seat overlooking the beach, didn't even glance at the maid.

"Yes?" she drawled.

"Mr. Tamaki Suoh is on the phone for you."

Renge's head whipped around immediately at the name. "What? What does that crummy king want?" she muttered to herself.

"Shall I take a message?" asked the maid, seeing the frown on her lady's face.

The former host club manager sighed dramatically. "No. Bring me the phone. I'll see what he wants."

As the maid went to fetch the phone, Renge puzzled as to what the former king could want. They'd never really had much contact outside the club.

She picked up the receiver. "Well, well, Tamaki. Why the unexpected call?"

"Renge! I need your help! You're my last hope!"

She frowned, even more confused. "What's wrong?"

"We've been issued a challenge!"

"Who has?"

"The Host Club! We've been issued a challenge by the current members of the club! They want to compete against us to see who has the greater charm, them or the original seven!"

"So what's the problem?" Renge asked, flipping her hair. "It's obvious that you seven will win. There's no way a bunch of amateurs could beat, my hosts."

"The problem is that they won't do it!"

Renge sat up, ramrod straight. "Who won't?" she demanded. "You mean the other six?"

"Yes! I called them all and they refused point blank!"

"WHAT?!" Renge nearly fell off of her seat. "WHAT DO YOU MEAN THEY REFUSED?! THEY CAN'T DO THAT! AS THEIR MANAGER, I WON'T ALLOW IT!"

"So you'll help me change their minds?"

"Of course I will! I'm coming to Japan today! There is no way I'll let this pass!"

"You're the best, Renge!"

"I know," she replied with a smug and slightly evil smile. "But I don't need you to tell me that."

She tossed the phone back to the maid. "Get my bags packed. I'm going to Japan."

A/N: So do tell. What do you think of my latest publication? I love feedback and reviews! So please hit the big green lettered button just below and let me know what you though! :) Thanks!