Author's note: Right… so, who's watched both Host Club and Furuba and hasn't seen the similarities between them? I mean you can't stand there and tell me that you haven't noticed the similar personalities the main characters from each series share. I've already seen one fiction with this crossover, and I wouldn't be surprised if there are more. You shouldn't be surprised by another one either. So let's begin.

Disclaimer: I do not own Ouran High School Host Club or Fruits Basket, nor do I claim to own them or any of the characters.

Chapter 1: It's for the rich!

"He's so pretty!", "He looks like a girl. How adorable!", "He's like a prince!"

These were only a few comments Haruhi caught as she pushed her way through the crowd of girls clogging up the classroom door. "Why are there so many?" she wondered. She knew all of these girls couldn't be in her class, and especially since some of them were upper classmen.

"Haruhi!" smashed between two girls who were trying to shove to the front of the group, Haruhi was glad to hear Hikaru's voice over all the squealing voices of the girls.

"What's going on?" Haruhi asked the twins as she pushed her way between two girls at the edge of the crowd, freeing herself from the sea of swooning young ladies. "Why are all these girls here?" she added, glancing back at them. She'd seen them mob like this before in the host club, but obviously, the only two (three) hosts in the room weren't their focus of attention.

"New student," the brother's replied simultaneously. They pointed a finger across the classroom to a desk. Haruhi couldn't see whoever was seated at it for all the girls crowded around. "He transferred from some public high school," Kaoru explained with a shrug. "Despite that, he's apparently from a wealthy family," Hikaru added. "Wealthy enough to get in class 1-A at least," they commented together.

Haruhi, able to reach her desk now, set her book bag down and chose to ignore the somewhat condescending tone and content in their words. "Apparently he's—popular," she said, glancing again at the back of the crowd.

"If you ask me, he looks frail," Hikaru criticized, sitting on the edge of Haruhi's desk.

"Hikaru!" Haruhi scolded, giving him a stern glance.

"Have you seen him though? He's thin and scrawny," Kaoru agreed. "If he weren't wearing a boy's uniform he could be taken for a girl."

"Of course, as Haruhi has proven, wearing a boy's uniform doesn't make you a man," Hikaru snickered, a wry smile curving the corners of his mouth.

"For all we know, he could be a gender confused girl," Kaoru suggested with a matching smile of his own.

"Hikaru, Kaoru," Haruhi sighed, saying their names to get their attention but not sure what to scold them for first; their over criticism of the new student or odd way of teasing her. "What's his name?" she asked, deciding against berating them for anything at the moment.

"Sohma Yuki," the twins recited together. Their voices were in perfect harmony as always. "Like we said, apparently his family is rich. Actually, I have heard a little about the Sohma's, but as to who they are and what they do," Hikaru began, then he and Kaoru finished with a shrug, "we don't know."

"Maybe Kyoya knows more about him," Kaoru added. "He seems to know something about everybody."

Haruhi almost cringed as she pictured Kyoya with his manipulative, cenacle smirk. The things he found out was frightening, but the only thing more frightening was the mystery of how he discovered what he knew. Somehow, Haruhi knew she didn't want to know that secret.

"All right!" The teachers voice barely got above the flock of squealing girls from where he stood in the door, veiled by the mob. "Everyone back to your classrooms. I have a lesson to teach! As for the rest of you, take your seats!"

The girls mumbled complaints as they begrudgingly left the room single file. Haruhi did as she had been told, and was finally able to glimpse the transfer student as she did. He was exactly as Hikaru and Kaoru had described—thin, feminine, and frail in appearance. Despite this, however, he was very handsome and—elegant, Haruhi thought for lack of a better word. The first thing she noticed about him was the unusual shade of gray hair he had.

One of the female students in the desk next to his whispered something to him to get his attention. As he looked over at her, Haruhi was able to see his gray eyes, which matched his hair in color, were like large orbs, and quite gorgeous to say the least. The female student handed him a note, leaning over to whisper something to him. As she spoke, what she said Haruhi couldn't hear, he watched her with a curious, attentive expression. Smiling warmly, he took the note from her and mouthed 'thank you.'

The girl blushed slightly before quickly turning forward facing in her desk again. Haruhi watched Yuki as he held the carefully folded note in his hand, staring at it as if it would tell him its contents. He placed it in his pocket without even opening it. Haruhi first thought it rude, but then considered that maybe he wanted to read it later when he had more time or wouldn't get into trouble. But she couldn't help but think of his smile as fake.

Haruhi noticed out of the corner of her eye that Hikaru was watching her. Realizing she'd been caught starring at the new comer, she quickly dropped her gaze to her open notebook and pretended to write something down.

"Haruhi," Hikaru whispered as he leaned slightly toward her. She gave him a sideways glance that conveyed the messages 'what', and 'shut up' at the same time. "See? I told you he was frail. What do you think?" he asked.

Haruhi shrugged. "Frail, maybe, but all the girls seem to love him," Kaoru whispered, leaning in on her other side, "What about you?"

"Shh!" she told both of them firmly yet quietly. She turned her attention back to the lesson at hand. Throughout the class though, she couldn't help glancing over at Yuki every once in a while if only to satisfy her own curiosity about him. Within the fifty minute time frame, he received at least four other notes, two of which had lip shapes kissed onto them and one with a large heart scrawled on it. Haruhi had even been asked to pass one of the notes up to him as it had come from the back of the class room. Not only was she amazed at how popular he was on his first day, but how oblivious the teacher was to the goings on of his own class.

The bell rang promptly at twelve, signaling the lunch hour. As the students filed out the door, though, Yuki remained in his seat. Haruhi pulled her bento box from her bag and noticed Yuki retrieve a small, carefully wrapped lunch box from inside his bag and place it on his desk.

"You're not going to eat in the cafeteria then?" she asked him from where she sat.

Yuki glanced back towards her, looking slightly surprised that he'd been spoken to. "Ah, no, my friend packed me a lunch," he replied.

"Haruhi!" Hikaru and Kaoru exclaimed, leaning in the door. They've come back for me she thought, her right eye twitching at the sound of their voices calling her name.

"Come eat lunch in the cafeteria," Hikaru demanded as he approached her desk.

"But I have my lunch here," she said, pointing to the box.

"Eat it in the cafeteria!" Kaoru ordered.

Before she could object they had seized her and her bento box and drug them from the desk. "Hey!" she growled. "I don't want to eat in the cafeteria!"

"To bad!" the twins chimed. She went limp in their tight grasp, allowing herself to be drug helplessly from the classroom and down the hallway, knowing that resistance was useless. She glanced back at Yuki just before clearing the doorway to find a quizzical expression on his face. Sighing, she made a mental note to apologize to him later for being so inadvertently rude, if and when she got the chance. Even though it wasn't her fault she left the room in the middle of a conversation, she still wanted to express her regret—for not being able to speak with him further and for being towed away so uncouthly by her friends—rather abductors.

As the morning gave way to noon, the cafeteria slowly started to fill up. Several of Haruhi's regular designators paused briefly as they passed her table to tell her how surprised and delighted they were to see her in the cafeteria eating. And they weren't the only ones thrilled about the thought.

"Haru-chan!" the high, child-like voice of her upper classmate reached her ears. "You're eating with us today?"

"Yes, Hani-sempai, I am," she replied with a smile. But not by choice she thought, casting a dull look towards the twins as they stood in line to get their food trays.

"Can Takashi and I sit with you then?" he inquired, smiling from ear to ear as he usually did.

"Of course," Haruhi replied.

"I'll sit next to you," Hani suggested.

"Sorry, but the seats next to Haruhi are taken," Hikaru informed as he approached the table, tray in hand. He sat his tray down to her left.

"Then we can sit across from you. Come on Takashi, let's get our food!" Hani said. He grabbed the tall, quiet Host by the sleeve and towed him away. All Mori said in response was "Uh."

"So what did you think of the transfer? You wouldn't answer us in class," Kaoru wondered as he sat down on Haruhi's right.

"That's because I could get in trouble for talking during class," Haruhi replied flatly. "You're supposed to pay attention to the lesson."

"We were listening, but it was just review at that point," Hikaru pointed out. "Now answer our question, we're not in class anymore."

Haruhi picked at the contents of her bento box thoughtfully for a moment. "He seems very—"

"Frail? Skinny?" Kaoru interjected.

"No, I was thinking more in terms of his personality," Haruhi corrected. Being interrupted by either of the two Hitachiin twins no longer annoyed her; it was just something they did and she'd learned to ignore it.

"Self-absorbed? Proud?" Hikaru suggested. It was easy to guess the opinions they had formed about him already.

"Actually, he seemed reserved. Like he doesn't really want to speak to anybody, but he's not going to be rude by ignoring them or impolite in any way," Haruhi explained. The twins stared at her blankly. "You know?"

"Hah, Haruhi!" they chimed, identical bored looks plastered on their faces.

"That doesn't make sense," Hikaru criticized.

"It does to me," Haruhi shrugged, taking a bite of her lunch.

"Haruhi!"

Haruhi almost choked having been surprised by the sudden and loud yelling of her name. She recognized the voice belonged to a certain blonde upper classman.

"Sempai," she coughed, reaching for the glass of water Kaoru had fetched her while he was in line.

"What are you doing here in the cafeteria?" Tamaki questioned in surprise. "I mean, I'm glad to see you but you normally don't come to the cafeteria to eat!"

"We persuaded her to come," Hikaru and Kaoru responded.

More like forced me Haruhi thought, narrowing her eyes. "I don't mind eating here every once in a while," she explained dryly.

"Well, to mark this special occasion I must sit with you!" Tamaki declared. Since he already had his tray he hurriedly sat down directly across from Haruhi.

"What's special about it?" Haruhi wonder aloud.

"Milord, have you seen the transfer student?" Hikaru and Kaoru inquired.

"Transfer student?" Tamaki repeated.

"Yah! He's in our class. Transferred in from a public high school," the twins explained in unison.

"There's a new student? How exciting! Don't you think so Takashi?" Hani exclaimed as he returned to the table.

"Yeah," Mori responded. He took the seat next to Hani as the two seniors sat down beside Tamaki.

"That's interesting. How could a public high school student get into Ouran?" Tamaki wondered.

"Its not impossible," Haruhi muttered under her breathe, glancing off to the side in annoyance.

"Ah! I mean, of course its not surprising that you got in, you're so smart Haruhi!" Tamaki panicked, having forgotten that Haruhi had come from a public middle school. "I didn't mean to insult you. Daddy's sorry!"

"Forget it," Haruhi sighed.

"Smooth, milord," Hikaru teased. "Very fastidious," Kaoru added.

"So, who's the new student?" Hani asked cheerfully.

"Sohma Yuki-kun," Haruhi replied. "I didn't speak with him, or rather, all I got to say were a few words." She paused and glanced between the twins. They shrugged, completely unaware that they'd interrupted her conversation with the new student. "Anyway, Hikaru and Kaoru don't know anything about him accept where he came from and that the Sohma's are wealthy.

"Wealthy is an understatement," Kyoya stated as he took the available seat on Tamaki's other side. "The Sohma family is quite large, and they specialize in more businesses than the Ootoris do. They own hospitals, large companies, dojos, and a variety of industries. Then there are the individual family members who have careers of their own, like writing or running shops and hot spring resorts. They own a lot of vacation homes that they rent out seasonally as well."

"Told you Kyoya would know," Kaoru said, sticking his tongue out as if to prove something.

"That's amazing! This Sohma person sounds like he's filthy rich," Tamaki marveled.

"Then why did he go to a public school?" Haruhi wondered. In her past experience with rich people, they never went the cheap route, so someone from such a prestigiously wealthy family attending anything less than an expensive private academy was strange to her.

"Apparently, that's where he wanted to go," Kyoya replied, spreading his napkin in his lap. "Sohma Yuki, high school freshman, attended Kaibara High instead of the all boys private school his family had chosen for him. He was the first of his family to go against the family's wish for him to go to private school and attend a public, co-ed school."

"So why is he coming here?" Hikaru questioned.

"The head of the Sohma estate transferred him here. He's not the only one either," Kyoya explained. "Hani-sempai, correct me if I'm wrong, but was there not a transfer student in your class this morning?"

"Ah, that's right! She sat in the back though and was so quiet I forgot about her," Hani confirmed. "Takashi, what was her name again?"

"Sohma Kagura," Takashi replied, pausing from eating only long enough to respond.

"Sohma Kagura, former student of a private all girls high school. Top of her class," Kyoya began. He pushed his glasses up with one finger causing the light to glint menacingly off of them and continued. "She was transferred here as well by the head of the estate. There are also two in the elementary and two in the middle school, all transferred in from various private academies. They're all from the Sohma family. I do believe they're some form of cousin to each other as well. Then there's a second year who was transferred, so she should have been in our class, but she has a history of skipping out on school, so she wasn't there today. There should be another first year in your class, Haruhi, but he's been known to skip school as well."

Haruhi felt a chill run up her spin as all the information sank in. She couldn't help but ask, "Kyoya, how do you know so much about them?"

Kyoya smirked, tilting his head just right so that the light glared off his glasses and hid his eyes. "The Sohmas are big business rivals of the Ootori family. I make it my business to know there's," he replied.

"That doesn't explain why you know so much about these kids," Hikaru observed, an intimidated look on his face that matched his brother and Haruhi's expressions.

"I did a background check on them," Kyoya stated so plainly it was as if such a habit were normal. "I always do."

"Kyoya-sempai, you said you did a background check on all of our customers. You never mentioned anything about new students," Haruhi pointed out.

"Not new students, no," Kyoya corrected. "However, transfer students are a different story. I like to know who they are and where they've been. When I found out all of the new transfers were Sohma's, I dug a little deeper than normal."

"Just a little?" Hikaru and Kaoru dared to ask.

"Yuki-kun seems to be adjusting well to the academy after having come from a public school," Haruhi said, changing the subject slightly. "It took me a while to get used to this institute when I was accepted here from middle school."

"Yes, but you attended public schools your whole life, Haruhi. He went to private boys' schools up until he enrolled at Kaibara," Kyoya bluntly said. Haruhi could feel the ice in his voice.

"Haru-chan! Haru-chan!" Hani chanted. "What was Yuki-chan like?"

"He was thin," Hikaru replied. "And girlish," Kaoru added.

"He was reserved, but extremely popular," Haruhi summarized. "He was extremely feminine in looks, but he was very pretty."

"Haruhi! Daddy doesn't like to hear you talk like that! Shame on you, Shame!" Tamaki scolded.

"I'm just saying, he looks like the kind of guy some of our customers would like," Haruhi mumbled solemnly.

"Oh? That's not what it sounded like to us!" Hikaru and Kaoru teased.

"At Kaibara there was a club made up entirely of girls who adored him. It was called 'The Yuki Fan Club' and he was known as 'Prince Yuki'," Kyoya explained. "Apparently, they had rules regarding how and when to speak to him. So his popularity here is assured, only I must admit it's surprising how quickly he's accumulated fans."

Tamaki paused a moment in thought. "You really think he'd be popular with our customers?" he wondered.

"He is popular with our customers, milord," Hikaru corrected. "Haruhi's customers all ignored her today because they were too busy passing him notes."

"Even our customers were distracted by him," Kaoru continued.

"It appears he's earned the favor of quiet a few ladies," Kyoya observed. He smirked, reaching up to adjust his glasses. "And it's only his first day here. Interesting."

Haruhi could almost see the money that was on Kyoya's mind. She could only imagine what he was thinking, but there was no doubt in her mind that it had something to do with making money.

Hani, who had left without being noticed returned with a large piece of cake, topped with whip cream and a strawberry. Making a big announcement and deal over the sweets he distracted the other hosts from all other matters.

Haruhi was able to finish her lunch more-or-less in peace. Teasing Tamaki preoccupied the twins, and for once, she wasn't the object of their teasing. She was able to sneak away from the group and head back to the classroom early in the hopes that she could get some studying in before the next class.

As she approached the classroom door she heard a female student's muffled voice inside the room. As she got closer she could hear what she was saying.

"I just wanted to welcome you to the school!" the girl exclaimed. Haruhi paused just around the corner by the door. She didn't usually spy on people, but spying was a bad habit she'd picked up from the hosts.

"That's ok, I mean, thank you, but—" she heard Yuki reply. His voice sounded somewhat nervous.

"I don't understand," the girl said, voice shaking with emotion. Her tone sounded confused and hurt. "I didn't think a hug was too forward. Am I that offensive?"

"Its not that you're offensive in anyway," Yuki explained. "Its just—I'm extremely shy."

"Shy? Then why didn't you say so?" the girl said. She giggled. "Don't worry, I'll help you come out of your shell."

Haruhi peeked in the door in time to see the girl step forward, throwing herself at him with her arms held out to embrace him. Gasping, Yuki staggered backwards and as if by instinct gracefully stepped out of the way. Haruhi stepped around the corner, reaching out in a vain attempt to catch the girl, but the young lady tripped on her own feet and went crashing to the floor.

"Wh-why'd you do that?" the girl blubbered, looking up at him with teary eyes.

"I-I'm sorry, I—" Yuki stuttered, struggling to find his words.

"How could you!" the girl wailed. Scrambling to her feet she dashed off in Haruhi's direction.

Yuki reached out to catch her before she ran from the room but missed grabbing her arm. "Wait, I'm sorry! I didn't mean—"

"No, I don't want to hear it!" the girl sobbed. She shoved passed Haruhi and ran down the hallway. Haruhi heard her sobbing fade away as she turned to face Yuki. When he saw her standing there he averted his gaze in shame.

"Ah, Yuki-kun," Haruhi said. She didn't know what to say though.

He turned halfway around. "Yes?" he asked. He avoided making eye contact as she approached him.

"Um, I uh—" Haruhi dropped her gaze to the floor. She wasn't sure why she'd said anything to him; accept that she wanted to know why he'd avoided the girl's embrace. But asking that would be rude. Then she remembered what she'd promised herself to do earlier. "About this morning," she continued. "I just wanted to apologize for leaving so abruptly. I didn't want to go."

"Ah, that's all right," Yuki said with a smile. "You didn't really have a choice."

"That's true," Haruhi laughed uneasily. They fell into awkward silence, staring at opposite walls. "Um, I'm Fujioka Haruhi," she said introducing herself. It seemed like the only thing left to say that would break the silence.

"I'm Sohma Yuki," he replied, giving a polite bow. "Its nice to meet you."

"Did you enjoy your lunch then?" she asked for lack of something better to say.

"Yes, I did, thank you," he said with another smile. The room fell silent again. The only questions she could think of were about what she'd just witnessed.

"Haruhi!" She was glad to hear the twins' voices for once. It was rare that she did, but she turned around to face them eagerly.

"You disappeared," Hikaru whined. "Don't sneak off like that. Milord was still ranting when we left."

"Ah, sorry," Haruhi apologized. "I wanted to study a little before class."

Yuki took advantage of the distraction and returned to his desk.

"Haruhi," the twins chimed. "Are you ready for the test tomorrow?"

"Of course, I studied hard so I would be ready," she replied, glancing curiously back at the withdrawn Sohma. Taking her seat, she pulled out her notebook to study, pushing the mystery that surrounded the multiple transfers to the back of her mind for the time being.

Classes began again for the day, and Haruhi continued to count the number of letters and notes Yuki received. By mid afternoon he'd received a total of twenty-six notes, which he pocketed, and just about every girl on the floor had spoken to him at some point or another. He pocketed all the notes and letters, and avoided any contact that some of the girls attempted, though a little more gracefully than he had earlier.

The day came to an end, and classes were over. Later that afternoon, Haruhi was in the third music room to assume her position as a host. She was forced to push any further curiosity about Sohma Yuki aside, as well as the pile of homework she needed to start on, and switch into 'hosting' mode.

It took the customers a few minutes longer than usual to arrive, but when they finally did, Haruhi's regulars were some of the first among them.

Haruhi-kun!" Momoka chirped. "I gave that recipe you told me about to my head chef to make for dinner last night, and my parents loved it!"

Haruhi smiled. "I'm glad," she said, letting her eyes close with her widening smile. I wonder what it tastes like made by a professional chef? she thought, her mouth almost watering at the thought.

"Haruhi-kun!" one of the other girls said excitedly, bouncing forward to get the host's attention. "Did you see the new student in our class? Isn't he gorgeous?"

"How could you say that to Haruhi-kun, Miku?" the third customer scolded.

Miku gasped, cupping her hands over her gaping mouth. "I'm so sorry Haruhi-kun! I didn't mean that you weren't-- I mean, I'm not saying I prefer him over you-- rather, that is to say--"

Haruhi raised a hand to silence the girl. "Its ok, I'm not offended," she laughed. She couldn't help but find the flustered girl amusing. "I noticed him, too. He is very elegant looking, eh?"

"Who was good looking?" Tamaki demanded, inviting himself to join the conversation as he often did.

I should have known better than to say that here, Haruhi thought glumly. His ears could pick up my voice miles away if I were mentioning a boy.

"The transfer student!" Momoka replied to the host king.

"Haruhi, are you still going on about him?" Tamaki demanded, seizing his 'daughter' by the shoulders. He looked serious, but with such a grave expression on his face that was over such a small thing Haruhi found him comical. It was hard for her to take him seriously.

"I'm not 'going on' about anybody," she spat, turning her head away from him.

"Don't speak to your father like that!" Tamaki shouted, his face turning red with anger.

Again, Haruhi couldn't take him seriously; but such an occasion where she could was rare. Shrugging herself free of his grasp she turned back to her customers.

"It seems Sohma Yuki is becoming popular with the ladies," Kyoya observed, raising a slender finger to push his glasses up. "This could be a problem for the host club."

"Problem?" Tamaki gasped. He rushed to his vice president's side, forgetting Haruhi's previous offense of back talking in an instant. "Kyoya, what do you mean 'problem'?"

Kyoya glanced at him from behind his spectacles, but the glare of light reflecting off of them concealed his eyes from view. "Just that if he's handsome enough to get the attention of Haruhi's most loyal customers, as well as Hikaru and Kaoru's customers, who's to say he won't steal the affections of other customers?"

"Do you really think this will affect the club?" Tamaki wondered, taking a moment to consider it. "I mean, we have many designators, he can't possibly gain the attention of all of them."

"I believe I told you about the Yuki Fan Club earlier. The club of his dedicated admirers?" Kyoya pointed out. He paused from writing in his notebook to cast a sideways glance at the host king. "A club, Tamaki. Not attendees of a club, but a whole club in and of itself. Dedicated solely to admiring him."

"Can any one person really be that popular?" Haruhi wondered aloud.

As if in response to her question, a loud scream came from the hallway, echoing off the high, vaulted ceiling and wide walls.

"Yuki-kun! We love you!" the scream cried. And it wasn't just one voice, but a unity of several voices shouting together. The loud exclamation was then followed by fan girlish screams of joy.

Suddenly, the door to the music room flung open. The person responsible for bursting in unannounced was none other than Sohma Yuki himself. Not even noticing anyone else in the room he quickly shut the door behind him. The small group of screaming girls could be heard as they passed and went on down the hallway.

Sighing with relief, Yuki turned around to see what room he had just dashed into for cover, only then noticing the large group of googly-eyed girls that composed the host club's customers. He gulped, taking a step back only to back into the door. He looked intimidated as he glanced around the room and the girls starred on with love-struck expressions.

Haruhi blinked at the frightened boy a few times before turning to inquire, "Where those girls... chasing you?"

It was clear Yuki recognized her from earlier as his eyes fell upon her. "I-I was trying to h-hide," he explained. "I didn't mean to interrupt--" he paused, glancing around the room again. "Whatever this is," he muttered.

Kyoya gave Tamaki a look that seemed to say, "See what I mean?" before turning his back on their unexpected guest. Tamaki whipped around on his heels to face Yuki. "You just stumbled upon the Host Club!" he exclaimed.

Yuki cocked an eyebrow. "The what?" he asked curiously.

Tamaki straightened his back so he was standing tall. Extending his hand in a gesture to the room and inhabitants of the room he took a deep breath and recited dramatically, "Ouran Academy is defined by one, prestigious families, and two, wealth. And prosperous people have much time on their hands. Therefore, this Ouran Host Club is about these handsome guys that have time giving, hospitality to these lovely ladies, who also have time, and profit off of them. Its an elegant game unique to this super-rich school."

When Yuki only stared dumbfounded at the Host Club's president Haruhi took it upon herself to explain. She thought about it a moment, then deciding on the best way to describe the circus act she was a part of, she smiled, stepped forward and spoke.

"Its for the rich!" she stated, matter of fact. She hadn't meant it in a belittling way, but Tamaki took it that way, and went to pout in the corner in a cloud of gloom.

"I see," Yuki said uneasily. "Well, I-I better go."

He turned to leave, but heard footsteps on the other side of the door. Freezing, he sucked in his breath as if it would be heard in the hall.

"Yuki-kun?" a girl called from the other side of the door, loud enough to be heard by everyone in the room. "Yuki-kun, where are you?"

The doorknob started to turn and Yuki looked petrified. He took a step back, glancing around for a place to hide.

Haruhi felt compelled to help when she saw the look of horror on his face. She faced mobbing fan girls almost daily and knew how he felt. She could sympathize, especially since it was only his first day. She didn't have to put up with squealing girls until later on, but he was getting all the attention right away.

Quickly, Haruhi moved to the other side of the room. Opening the door to the back room where the hosts changed frequently, she called out to get Yuki's attention. "Yuki-kun! Quick, in here," she said.

Yuki's head snapped around in response to his name. He saw the open door and bolted for it. He'd barely gotten through and Haruhi had started to close the door behind him when the main door opened to reveal an expectant young lady.

"Oh, not here either," she said disappointedly, after visually searching the room.

"But my lovely rose, since you're here, you might as well enjoy the services of the Host Club," Tamaki, not missing a beat, coaxed as he came to her side and took her hand gently in his.

The girl, with her free hand on her blushing cheek, gasped in excitement as she stared at Tamaki's handsome visage. "Oh!" she squeaked.

"I'll take that as a yes!" Tamaki said with a smile. He pulled her in and began introducing her to the different types of hosts in the club.

Haruhi watched with a dull gaze from the back of the room. It's like his sales pitch she thought. He sees a new face to the club and jumps at the chance to invite her to designate someone.

The door, which she still stood by, cracked slightly. She glanced over to see Yuki barely peeking out. He wasn't looking about the room to see if the cost was clear, however, he was looking at her.

"Ah, Fujioka-san, is it?" he inquired, his wide eyes sparkling as the light from the main room hit them.

"Yes," she said quietly, giving a faint smile as she turned towards him.

"Thank you," he said with a slight smile. Though it was small, Haruhi could tell it was real this time, much different from the smiles he'd given countless girls throughout the day. And it conveyed the sincerity of his appreciation.

Haruhi's smile widened. "No problem," she said. Pushing the door shut she muttered through it, "stay in here until everyone has left. I'll let you know when it's safe to come out."

"Haruhi-kun!" came Momoka's voice. Haruhi couldn't see her or any of her other customers from where she stood. The crowd of other host club guests blocked them from view.

"Yes, I'm coming!" Haruhi called, rushing back to her designees' presence. Before long, she was so caught up in hosting that she forgot to check on Yuki to make sure he didn't need anything. It seemed like in the blink of an eye it was time for the Host Club to close their doors until the next day.

"Haruhi!"

Haruhi looked up from wiping the smudges off of a silver tray to find herself faced by the twins. "What?" she asked, setting the tray on a nearby table.

"Why'd you help that guy?" Hikaru asked.

"Guy?" Haruhi questioned. Then it dawned on her. "Yuki-kun!" she gasped. Shoving past the twins she hurried over to the back room door.

"Yuki-kun!" she exclaimed as she yanked the door open.

Yuki was sitting in the window seal, head resting on his arms, which were folded across his knees, sleeping.

Haruhi approached him and placed her hand gently on his shoulder. "Yuki-kun," she said softly, giving a slight shake.

Yuki's eyes fluttered open. He sat up with a start, as if suddenly remembering where he was. Confused, he looked up at her with an innocent expression of inquiry.

Haruhi smiled. "The coast is clear," she informed him.

Rising to his feet, Yuki rubbed the sleep from his eyes. "Ah, thank you," he said. Checking his watch he sighed. "I'm late for dinner," he lamented.

"How far do you live from the school?" Haruhi wondered.

"About fifteen or twenty minutes, actually," he replied.

"Then it won't take you long at all to get home," she said, turning to leave the room. "You took a car here, right?"

"No," Yuki replied, following her back out into the main music room. "I walked to school. I don't have a car or anyone to drive me in it for that matter."

"But—" Haruhi stopped so abruptly to turn around and face him that he almost ran into her. "You're family doesn't provide you with a ride?" It baffled her that someone rich would walk anywhere. After all, didn't all rich people ride around in fancy sports cars and limousines?

"The Sohma estate is exactly forty miles into the country," Kyoya explained from where he sat typing at his laptop. "That's a lot further than twenty minutes from here, Haruhi."

Haruhi glanced toward the Shadow king's corner. "Then you don't live at the estate?" Haruhi asked.

"He lives with is cousin, Sohma Shigure, here in the city," Kyoya informed, not once looking up from his work.

Yuki looked alarmed that a stranger would know that about him. Seeing Haruhi's curious gaze he nodded. "No, I haven't lived at the estate since I was little," he confirmed. He stared intently at Kyoya's profile, looking like he wanted to ask him how he knew that about him.

"Haruhi!" Tamaki called as he approached her. He'd been putting away some teacups and had just noticed her conversing with Yuki. "Aren't you going home?" he asked.

"Yes, sempai," she replied. "I was just letting Yuki-kun know it was safe to go home himself."

"You're quite popular with the ladies," Hikaru pointed out, leaning on his brother's shoulder with his elbow.

"Even if you are scrawny," Kaoru finished, arms folded critically in front of him.

"Hikaru, Kaoru!" Haruhi scolded.

Yuki stared at them a moment. "Ah, I don't attract so many girls because I want to," he sighed, dropping his gaze to the floor. "But it's getting late. I need to go home now."

Yuki turned to leave. Haruhi reached her hand out towards him. "Wait," she said, with intentions to make the twins apologize for their rude comment. As she stepped forward she tripped on her un-tied shoelaces and crashed into him, just as he had started to turn around. Instinctively she wrapped her arms around his waist in attempt to catch herself from falling, but crashed to the floor anyway. A puff of smoke encircled her head as she passed through where Yuki had been standing seconds ago, and it lingered above where she now laid, face down.

Pushing herself up onto her hands and knees, she blinked in bewilderment at Yuki's uniform that lay underneath her.

"Yuki-kun?" she asked in shock. The other hosts gathered around her, peering over her shoulders at the pile of garments on the floor.

"Wah, where'd Yuki-chan go!?" Hani exclaimed, leaping into Takashi's arms in alarm.

Then, something under the shirt and blue jacket moved. Haruhi sat back on the heels of her feet, tilting her head with curiosity. The twins leaned in closer.

From the neck of the shirt, a small, gray rat popped his head out. Looking around, he spotted the hosts all stooping over him and sighed. Turning around he looked up at Haruhi with large, gray orb like eyes.

Haruhi blinked, leaning back in disbelief. "Yuki-kun?" she gasped.

The rat, to everyone surprised, bowed slightly. And even more surprising, he spoke. "Yes, Fujioka-san. It's me."

Everyone drew back in shock as they shouted and gasped almost in horror; everyone except Haruhi, who sat on her knees in front of the gray rat, which was apparently Yuki, searching her mind for a logical answer, and Kyoya, who smiled mincingly, pushed his glasses up so the glare concealed his eyes, and said, "Interesting!"