Author's note: I wanted to see what would happen if Kyoya had known about Haruhi's fear of thunder prior to going to the beach in the anime's The Sun, the Sea, and the Host Club episode. This story begins at the very end of episode 7, Jungle Pool SOS.

Prologue

Kyoya would continue to lie to everyone else, but he couldn't lie to himself any longer. He had completely fallen for Haruhi. His respect had turned into interest, interest into affection, and affection into love, albeit a one-sided love that he tried desperately not to act on.

He was thinking about Haruhi as he walked down the path in his family's resort, after having saved his onion squad from the wrath of Honey-senpai. His thoughts, however, were rudely interrupted by several idiots.

"You know, maybe we should go to the beach next," Hikaru proposed.

"Yeah, the beach would be nice." Kaoru added his two cents.

"You idiots, Haruhi wouldn't be interested in anything like that," Tamaki scoffed.

Looking up, Kyoya's eyes flicked over to Haruhi. He knew she would be very interested in going to the beach. Ranka had told Kyoya about Haruhi's love of the ocean. Before she even responded, Kyoya began planning the trip, what it would cost, and when best to call Ranka and ask his permission to take his daughter on an overnight trip.

Inwardly, Kyoya smiled. He was sure that Ranka would have no problem with an overnight trip - especially if Kyoya was arranging it.

Kyoya had been chatting with Ranka for months - ever since Haruhi's first day at the Host Club. They had even gone out to coffee a few times. While Ranka frequently gushed and sang Kyoya's praises, which was embarrassing on one level, a secret side of Kyoya was pleased to receive affirmation from an adult male figure in his life. His own father was anything but affirming. Kyoya found a father figure in Ranka that he had only ever dreamed about - and Ranka found a prospective son-in-law.

Kyoya constantly tried to suppress his feelings for Haruhi, but Ranka had made that difficult. Ranka made no secret of the fact that he approved of Kyoya for his daughter. About two months ago, Ranka had a frank, one-sided conversation with Kyoya. Ranka explained that he knew Kyoya had developed feelings for Haruhi, but that Kyoya was purposefully trying not to pursue her out of duty to his family. He continued to say that he understood, but that if Kyoya ever had a change of heart, Ranka approved of Kyoya courting Haruhi. Ranka ended the conversation by saying that they could pretend that this conversation never happened, but that Ranka wanted to reassure the boy that he understood what he was going through and if he needed a listening ear - about anything, Ranka would be there. Kyoya was stunned. Ranka was so unlike his own father.

Kyoya had really begun to respect Haruhi's father over the months they had known each other and appreciated his wisdom - both in business and as a father-in-law, albeit one he could never have.

Kyoya also valued these phone calls because he learned more about Haruhi. At the beginning, it was simply a good way to get information to subtly manipulate and motivate her. After he became interested in her, it allowed him to keep current of Haruhi's personal matters and ways he could help her behind the scenes.

One of the weirdest aspects about Kyoya's relationship with Ranka were the Haruhi-themed gift baskets filled with pictures of Haruhi when she was younger (which he kept), pencils and odds and ends (which he put up for auction), and lists of things she liked/didn't like/aspirations - really anything that a prospective husband should know.

Despite Ranka's enthusiastic support, Kyoya still tried to put up barriers between him and Haruhi. He loved her, but even so, any kind of relationship between them would be difficult. His family could be... cruel if they deemed a partner unworthy. And he did not wish that upon Haruhi. He was also sure that she would not enjoy his world as it was full of the "rich bastards" she often complained about.

He had to admit though, it was growing harder to maintain his distance from Haruhi. Just the other day, Kyoya found himself wanting to ask her about Misuzu, who was apparently an ill friend of the family that Ranka had mentioned in passing. Kyoya caught himself just in time though - there was no justifiable reason for him to know that and it would be extremely out of character for the Shadow King to care. But he did. Care, that is. It was so at odds with how he had lived his life up to this point. Haruhi (and Ranka) made him think about so many things he had never thought about before. In many ways, it would be easier just to tell Haruhi that he had been chatting with Ranka, so he wouldn't have to guard everything that came out of his mouth.

Whenever his thoughts went in that direction though, he reminded himself that Haruhi would be... less than pleased to find out that he had been talking to her father since the beginning (and rightfully so, if he were being honest with himself). However, there was another reason not to tell Haruhi. Kyoya was desperately trying to not pursue Haruhi. Kyoya felt that he wouldn't be able to keep his distance from Haruhi if she knew and that was dangerous. If that distance disappeared, he was afraid the temptation to woo her would become too great and he would finally give in. Since he loved her enough to not drag her into his cold world, he needed all the barriers he could find to prevent him from pursuing her.

Despite Ranka's encouragement.

That train of thought reminded Kyoya to call the man later that evening. He made a note of it in his black book. Once finished, Kyoya went back to rounding up the host club members so they could head back to Ouran. Of course, he subtly arranged it all so that Haruhi sat next to him, but that goes without saying.