Loose Change

A Common Mistake

Disclaimer: I don't own any of these characters, but I'm blaming that on the professional kidnappers...who have failed me for the last time.

~o~

"It's worth WHAT?" Tamaki screeched in a completely manly pitch that in no way sounded like a dying cat. "E-eight million yen? But with that kind of money, Haruhi could buy herself thousands of sundresses!"

Haruhi laughing while hundreds of sundresses fell from the sunny sky, twirling around happily-

"Boss, you can't be that slow!" Hikaru and Kaoru broke in, completely interrupting the beginning of Tamaki's sundress fantasy. "8 million yen? Doesn't that number ring a bell somewhere in that hamster wheel of a mind of yours?"

The seconds dragged on in silence.

A lightning bolt of inspiration struck the Prince. "With that money, Haruhi could pay off her debts to the Host Club in full!"

"Now he gets it," the twins deadpanned from the side.

"No, no, no," Honey-chan wailed, hugging Usa-chan close. "Haru-chan can't just leave!"

Mori nodded in agreement impassively.

"You're the boss, fix this!" Hikaru and Kaoru said in perfect unison, snapping their attention back to their blond leader.

"Alright!" Tamaki shouted, commanding silence. He lifted his head, surveying the Host Club with calm blue eyes. "I have a plan. If we stay collected and rational, we can keep our Princess where she belongs. Now, does that sound alright to everyone here?"

Tamaki was rarely serious, but on those occasions when he chose to set aside all glitz and glamour, anyone could see that he had the qualities of a leader. This was one of those times. He stood in a self-assured manner, a pillar of calm that could not be shaken. His words commanded attention, and anyone who listened would automatically feel they could be trusted completely. The Host Club was awed into silence by this sudden change. Could this be a man who could set aside his childishness, and come up with a rational and responsible plan to keep their family together?

Calming down from the beginnings of true panic, Hikaru turned to Tamaki.

"So what's this plan of yours?"

Tamaki closed his brilliant blue eyes, as though about to deliver an inspirational speech. "Well, Takumi Hiroya was the one who started this whole mess, by giving Haruhi that coin he was carrying as loose change. Therefore, it follows that my plan begins with him. We find Hiroya-san first."

"And then?" Kaoru chimed in.

"No one ever hears from him again."

Before Tamaki had even finished his sentence, Kyoya was speaking. "While that's very dramatic, it doesn't exactly help with the current situation. Also, it's quite illegal."

"Well, what would YOU suggest?" Tamaki snapped, reverting to the childish prince.

Light gleamed off the Shadow Kings glasses, and when he smiled, the temperature in the room seemed to drop a few degrees. "While I can think of several options that would suit this particular situation, perhaps they should be saved until after some other courses of action have been attempted. After all, using my family's secret police to force an impoverished honor student to continue spending time with a host club could be seen as borderline criminal."

"Hang on a second," Kaoru broke in. "We've been friends with Haruhi for a long time now. Who's to say she'll leave if she repays her debt? Haruhi might decide to stay."