"What on earth?" Haruhi mumbled at the sight before her. "I'm pretty sure it's July. So... Why is there snow everywhere?" Haruhi looked around. It definitely was snowing. She was so busy trying to work out why it was snowing that she didn't notice the Hitachiin twins sneak up behind her and put their arms around her shoulders. "What do you think? Pretty cool right?" Kaoru said happily. "This is Kyouya-senpai family's resort. Only an hour away from the school." said Hikaru.
"I should have known." Haruhi muttered to herself. She looked over to her left and saw Mori pulling a very excited Honey around on a giant inflatable ring. Kyouya was standing at the entrance to a ski hut, notebook and pen in hand. Tamaki was spinning in circles smiling up at the snow. His spinning abruptly ended when a snowball smacked him on the face.
"Hikaru! Kaoru!" he bellowed at the laughing twins. "You should have seen your face!"Hikaru managed to get out between laughs. Tamaki glared at the twins as he started to make a snowball of his own which hit Kaoru on the shoulder. Both twins immediately stopped laughing. "You think you have what it takes to take us on boss?" Hikaru said tauntingly. "I have what it takes and more." The twins grinned evilly at each other. "Game on!" they yelled in unison as they started their snowball fight.
Haruhi wisely took that as an opportunity to head to the ski hut. She started shivering in her thin school shirt and blazer when a thick, warm, winter jacket was wrapped around her shoulders. She looked up to the caring face of Mori. "You need to wear more clothes." he said gently as he picked up a bunny scarf that was obviously meant for Honey. Haruhi smiled gratefully at the tall boy.
Kyouya walked up beside Haruhi with a small, proud smile on his face. "This is another of the Ootori family's estates. It lets our customers feel like they are skiing on the snowy mountains of France without having to leave the country. Everything is top of the line, we spared no expense in trying to provide our customers with as close to an authentic experience as possible. Tamaki was dead set on taking you skiing on a real mountain, but since you do not own a passport, I offered to let him bring you here."
Haruhi nodded, "Is this resort similar to the beach resort you took us to before? Are we your guinea pigs again?" Kyouya smiled darkly. "You say guinea pigs like its a bad thing. I'm merely providing my family's resort since Tamaki was set on skiing." he paused a for a few seconds as he pushed up his glasses. "And if I just so happen to collect some information in the process then all the better."
Haruhi moved a step away from the usually quiet boy. He really is scary. She thought to herself as she watched the twins mercilessly attack their Host Clubs king. After they proclaimed themselves the winners, which Tamaki argued against, they came up to the ski hut where mugs of hot chocolate were awaiting them. They all sat next to a roaring fire watching the snow falling outside. "We have to try snowboarding." Hikaru said eagerly as he turned to Haruhi, "We can teach you how. Its really easy!"
Haruhi turned white. "M-me? Snowboarding? I don't think so. I think I'll just stay in here with my hot chocolate." Kaoru frowned, "That's no fun. Come play with us." he said as he stood up and pulled Haruhi to her feet. Hikaru grabbed their coats, scarves and gloves then turned to the others, "Don't tell the boss where we're going!" he said playfully as he followed his brother out the door.
Tamaki, who had been in the bathroom, returned to the table a few minutes later, and was devastated that Haruhi was missing. "Where is she?" he said frantically. "Hika-chan and Kao-chan took her away to play somewhere." Honey said as he stole a marshmallow from Mori's mug. Tamaki fell into his chair dramatically and covered his eyes with his hand. "How could you let those devious little twins take my precious Haruhi away?! There's no telling what they'll do to her!"
"I don't think Haruhi is in any danger." Kyouya said quietly. Tamaki gave Kyouya a hard stare. "But those twins are dangerous!" Kyouya shook his head and returned his attention to his notebook while Tamaki pressed his nose up against the window trying to locate Haruhi.
Meanwhile, Hikaru and Kaoru had managed to locate 3 snowboards and were getting ready to teach Haruhi how to use it. "Don't be scared, we'll take care of you! Besides, where's your sense of adventure?" Hikaru asked as he started put the board in front of Haruhi. "I still don't think this is a good idea." Haruhi mumbled halfheartedly. She really didn't want to snowboard, but she also knew there was no way the twins would give up trying to teach her.
Hikaru set up one board and Kaoru helped ease Haruhi's feet into place and fastened them securely. Haruhi wobbled, "Its weird having my feet stuck together like this." she mumbled making Hikaru laugh, "Don't worry, you'll get used to it soon." He promised as he stood in front of Haruhi.
"Ok now the best way to do this is for me to show you the best way to stand and move and for you to copy me, think you'll manage?" he said with a smile that made Haruhi turn red. She nodded without speaking as she tried to keep her balance.
Hikaru put his back to Haruhi and started showing her the best position to stand in. Haruhi wobbled a lot at first but with Kaoru's gentle hand helping her stay up right and correcting her position, she slowly started getting used to the feeling.
After some time the twins were finally satisfied with Haruhi's posture and with the advice they had given her. "You're doing great! Now we just have to get you used to moving, and you'll be a pro in no time!" he beamed as both he and Kaoru moved in front Haruhi and extended their hands. Haruhi grasped their hands and gave a yelp of surprise when they pulled her sideways and the board started to glide over the snow.
Hikaru smiled at Haruhi's tight grip on his hands as he watched her concentrating on being able to move. She looks so cute like that. He thought to himself. "I think she's ready." Kaoru said with a smile. "Maybe we should try the slopes?" Hikaru said. Haruhi paled. "I don't know if I'm ready for that! I can just stand on this thing without falling over!" she protested.
Hikaru smiled at her, "Don't worry so much. Everyone falls down. You should have seen Kaoru the first time he tried snowboarding, he fell over so many times." Kaoru pouted, "I'm not the only one who fell you know." Before the twins could start an argument, they heard Tamaki's voice, calling out for Haruhi. "Damn. I don't want him to find us." Hikaru muttered as he glanced at Haruhi. Kaoru noticed his brothers glance and smiled. "You two go to the slopes, I'll go distract the boss." he offered. Both Haruhi and Hikaru looked stunned. "Why?"
"I think it will be fun to mess with the boss a little. Plus, as Hikaru already pointed out, I'm not exactly the best at this. You two go have fun. Take my board back so the boss doesn't get suspicious ok?" Kaoru said as he headed in the direction of Tamaki's voice. "You two have fun!" he called over his shoulder making Haruhi and Hikaru blush.
Hikaru and Haruhi watched Kaoru until he was out of sight then Hikaru bent down in front of Haruhi to release her feet from the board. "Let's get to the slopes before Tamaki finds us." he lifted her board then his own. "I'll carry it for you, let's go." he grabbed Haruhi's hand and pulled her towards the ski lift. I am going to die was all Haruhi could think as Hikaru led her to the ski lift.
When they got to the top Haruhi took one look at how high up they were and nearly fainted. I cannot believe he wants me to go down that with my feet strapped to a board! Hikaru didn't sense Haruhi's unease as he was too busy securing his feet into his own board. He straightened himself and looked at Haruhi's terrified face and suppressed a chuckle, "Don't worry Haruhi, you'll be fine, I promise. This is the easy side, the slope is split into stages, so you won't go all the way to the bottom in one go." He said as he gently pulled Haruhi's snow visor over her eyes.
"We'd better hurry up and get a turn, the snow's getting heavier." Hikaru said as they reached the peak of the slope. "Want me to go first or you?" Hikaru asked. Haruhi considered the possibilities, "Let me go first, that way if I fall you can save me." She said with an uneasy laugh.
Haruhi closed her eyes and took a deep breath before starting her descent. She heard Hikaru cheering her on from behind and opened her eyes. "Ohmygodohmygodohmygod!" she yelled as she started to pick up speed. "Haruhi, slow down a little!" Hikaru yelled from behind.
How do I slow down?! Haruhi thought as she tried to move her feet and body trying frantically to remember what Hikaru and Kaoru had taught her. Instead of slowing down, Haruhi managed to veer herself off course into the trees. "Haruhi!"
Haruhi started to panic, "What do I do?!" she yelled back but Hikaru's words could barely reach her. She tried to turn her head a little to see how far back Hikaru was but the snow was heavier, making it too hard to see. She turned his head a little further then felt her body start to tip.
She tried to pull herself upright but she was already too far forward, her hands hit the snow first and she started to roll down the slope. For a few seconds she felt her body leave the ground and snow altogether the she hit a ramp and landed with a muffled thump in the snow and stopped moving.
Blood oozed from a cut on her forehead and her body lay motionless, one foot wrenched from its bindings on the board, her snow visor lost during the fall…