The Third Son

**Warning Ouran Spoilers**
**mild language**
The clock chimed three times. She was late. Haruhi grabbed her things and ran toward the “abandoned” music room. They never liked it when she was late; she wondered if this time they’d even raise her debt. She approached the large mahogany door and stopped. This was probably her tenth time to be late, they had never done anything before, but what if today was the day? She hesitated, but eventually reached for the door handle and opened the door. The normal smell of roses rushed through the crack in the door and the other hosts’ voices began to chime in their usual call. “Welcome to the host club!”
Tamaki’s eyes began to light up as he saw Haruhi’s face appear on the other side of the door. “Haruhi you’re here!” He said enthusiastically, running to meet her.
“You’re late. Again.” Kyoya added coldly, not even looking up from his notebook to meet her eyes. He had an angry expression on his face, and gave off a dark air about him, even more than usual.
“Aw come on Kyoya, it’s okay for her to be a little late from time to time!” Tamaki said innocently. “Everyone makes mistakes! Please forgive my little Haruhi~”
“The fool…” Kyoya mumbled under his breath before glaring coldly right into Tamaki’s eyes. “Do you realize how many times she’s arrived late? This is the fifteenth time!” Kyoya snapped his notebook shut sharply, and the snap it created echoed through the room. “Do you realize how much pressure that puts on me to make sure everything is prepared before the guests arrive?!”
“W-well…” Tamaki began nervously. “Th-the guests aren’t here yet…so…it should be okay…right?”
“Whoa…Kyoya, it’s okay.” Hikaru chimed in, walking up to take position on Tamaki’s right.
“No need to get so worked up about it.” Kaoru finished, taking position the other side.
“You shouldn’t yell at Haru-chan and Tama-chan…it’s not nice…” Honey-senpai added, pouting and hugging Usa-chan close to his chest.
“Yeah.” Mori agreed, simply standing next to Honey-sempi.
“Shut up!” Kyoya yelled. “All of you!”
“K-Kyoya…what’s gotten into you?” Tamaki muttered afraid, shrinking back.
“Nothing! I’m fine!” Kyoya retorted angrily.
“What if it’s some sort of full moon that’s causing all the AB blood types to go ballistic?!” Hikaru fantasized, looking afraid.
“But that would mean…!” Kaoru added, turning to Honey-senpai. “That Honey is next!”
“Q-quick! Do something to subdue him before he goes crazy!” Tamaki, stuttered, waving his arms around trying to get the others to do what he wanted.
“Huh? What’re you guys talking about?” Honey said, distracted by his cake, the red frosting smeared over his mouth and fingers.
“He’s gotten a taste for blood!” Hikaru yelled, terrified.
“We gotta get out of here!!” His twin added.
“Everyone evacuate the host club!!” Tamaki screamed, frantically running around to try and escape Honey’s “wrath” with the twins following his lead.
“G-guys quit it!” Haruhi yelled at them. “Honey-senpai’s not some sort of monster and K-Kyoya’s obviously just stressed out. Lay off him okay?”
“H-Haruhi…” Tamaki said, a little surprised by her standing up for Kyoya, and freezing in place to stare at her along with the twins.
“Am I right…Kyoya?” Haruhi said turning toward Kyoya, who looked away angrily, so Haruhi knew she was right. But what would stress out Kyoya so much that he’d be this angry just before the customers were to arrive?
“I-I’m fine…forget about it…but don’t be late again Haruhi…” Kyoya said turning away and going back to his laptop. “The customers should be here any minute…so just get in positions.”
“K-Kyoya are you sure you’re-” Tamaki began but Kyoya cut him off.
“I SAID GET IN POSITIONS YOU MORON!”
“K-Kyoya…!” Tamaki started, a little heartbroken, but didn’t say anymore and went over to his table, and the other hosts took their usual spots and the host club was opened for business.

As the customers filed in Kyoya seemed to be in better spirits, but the other hosts were still on edge, Honey had even lost his appetite for cake. The guests knew something was wrong, but tried to hide their own unease along with their hosts and the day went by with relatively few problems. The twins went about their normal antics, Tamaki went about his normal compliments and crazy schemes and the guests still seemed generally pleased. However, once the guests began to leave, the tension returned to the room as the aura of anger surrounding Kyoya rose. Once they were gone and he looked as angry as when he’s abruptly woken early from his sleep.
“W-what should we do boss?” Hikaru whispered to Tamaki, who was still sitting in his chair.
“I-I don’t know…Kyoya’s really mad…” Tamaki answered, eyeing Kyoya anxiously
“What did you do to upset him this time boss?!” Kaoru yelled accusingly.
“I-I didn’t do anything to upset Kyoya I swear!” Tamiki stuttered nervously, he didn’t want the twins angry too.
“Oh really?” Hikaru followed up. “What about all the surprise plans you had for today?”
“That put Kyoya in a tough spot to make sure they all happened?” Kaoru added.
“And what about all the coffee you spilt on his laptop?” Hikaru continued.
“It completely shut down, and he had to work off one of the school’s computers and you know how slow THOSE are!”
“Those computers are faster than the one I have at home…” Haruhi mumbled as she picked up the last tea set.
“And!” The twins said in unison. “What about all freaking out over where Haruhi was?! You were driving Kyoya insane!”
“B-but it’s natural for a father to worry about his little girl when she doesn’t come home…!”
“Come on guys leave Senpai alone…” Haruhi cut in; even though she knew she was gonna regret it. “I’m pretty sure this isn’t his fault…even if he isn’t helping…”
“H-Haruhi?” Tamiki said quietly turning to look at her, tears in his eyes.
“I get the feeling something else is on Kyoya-Senpai’s mind other than the host club.”
“What are you guys talking about?” Kyoya grumbled walking up to the group from behind.
Tamaki and the twins jumped and hid behind Haruhi who just groaned at their cowardice.
“Kyo-chan’s really mad huh…” Honey mumbled to Mori, who was sitting across from him at the table where Honey usually eats his cake.
“Yeah,” Mori replied simply.
“Morons…” Kyoya grumbled and went back over to his laptop, his scowl even darker than before.
“Kyoya-Senpai…what’s gotten into you? Why are you so angry all of a sudden? I know Tamaki- Senpai is an idiot but…he isn’t doing anything much different from normal…”
“Hey!” Tamiki said, kinda hurt, but Kyoya matched Tamaki’s outburst with an icy glare, and Tamaki jumped and hid back behind Haruhi.
“It’s none of your business, why don’t all of you just leave and give me some peace?”  Kyoya grumbled glaring at the other hosts, especially Tamaki and the twins.
“W-Well…”Tamaki murmured. “W-We were going to discuss our plans for next week…d-don’t you remember Kyoya?”
“JUST GET OUT!” Kyoya yelled, glare going over his glasses, and his hand clenching into a fist.
The hosts jumped in fear, and slowly some of them filed out. Tamaki and Haruhi were soon the only ones left. Tamaki wanted to talk to Kyoya, but wasn’t sure what to say. Haruhi watched Kyoya as he sat there, his fist trembling.
“K-Kyoya…” Tamaki mumbled.
“I SAID GET OUT YOU IDIOT!” Kyoya yelled and turned back toward Tamaki. Kyoya’s eyes looked desperate, and almost savage.
“No…I’m not leaving!” Tamaki yelled back stubbornly. “I can see it in your eyes Kyoya…something’s gone wrong... something you worked hard for…all that time and effort seems wasted…what is it Kyoya?! You can tell us…We’re your friends…”
“I don’t recall ever agreeing that you were my friend Tamaki…” Kyoya said darkly.
“B-but K-Kyoya…!” Tamaki gasped, taken aback by Kyoya’s remark.
“But you did agree to start the host club with him…I get the feeling that this is more related to the host club than I originally thought.” Haruhi chimed in, and Kyoya’s expression went darker. For a moment Kyoya said nothing, he just stared down at the table in silence. But in a few minutes Kyoya raised his head back up just a little, his expression had changed from angry to almost heartbroken.
“My father… THAT DAMN BASTARD!!” Kyoya yelled and turned away again. Glare covered his eyes, so as not to reveal the rare tears that were forming. “How could he…how could he still not see that I deserve to be the heir?!”
“K-Kyoya what are you talking about?” Tamaki said.
“After bailing out the family company he still doesn’t recognize that I deserve more just because I’m the third son…He should recognize that I’m more than that!! That I should lead the company!! I bailed HIM out!” Kyoya’s knuckles turned white. “How could he…not see?”
“Kyoya I-“Tamaki began.
“You two could never understand! So don’t even pretend to!! Just get out of here!!”
“K-Kyoya-Senpai…” Haruhi murmured.
“K-Kyoya…I-I’m s-sorry…” Tamaki tried to say once more, not knowing what else to do.
“Just…Just leave, Tamaki…Get out of here…” Kyoya grumbled, sitting slumped over in his chair, his eyes looked tired, pained. “Just let me be…I need to be alone…”
“…Come on Haruhi…Let’s go...”  Tamaki said, turning and walking out the door, closing it quietly behind him.
Haruhi stopped just before the door and looked back at Kyoya. “Kyoya-Senpai…I know you’re upset…but I’m sure things will work out. If you really did bail out your family’s company, your father isn’t going to forget it. Just…give it some time…” Haruhi said, and then walked through the door, and Music Room 3 was empty except for the shadow king.
Kyoya looked up to where Haruhi had just been, a tear streaming down his face. “…Maybe I was wrong about you…” He tilted his head back down slightly- hiding his eyes behind the glare once more. “But you’ll never know my father.” Kyoya stood up, picked up his laptop, turned out the lights and left the music room, leaving only darkness and the smell of roses behind him.
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