The Host Club was quite happy for it was the first day of summer break. Haruhi had thought to maybe separate herself from the Host Club, which of course was a vain hope.
Tamaki was ecstatic that Kyoya had planned for a trip to a hot spring resort in the mountains. The twins had managed to convince Haruhi of the positive points of such a trip and Honey was happy anywhere there was food, or most specifically, sweets.
Mori was, well, being Mori and followed Honey in an content manner.

"So what made you decide on a Hot Spring Resort Kyoya-senpai?" Haruhi asked as they were making their way up the mountain in a gondola.
Kyoya looked up from his little black notebook to address her, "My family owns the resort of course. In addition, I use to come here when I was young and believe this trip is long overdue. I saw no reason why not to at least allow yourself and the others to accompany me."
Haruhi nodded and wisely said no more. Only Kyoya, it seemed, could manage to make their going on summer vacation sound as though it was all thanks to him and at the same time insinuate that he was the one granting them permission to even go to the Hot Springs as though he was doing them a huge favor.
Haruhi just decided not to question it any further.

With Kyoya it seemed best not to go to far in depth with some things.

Mori watched the interaction with amusement. Kyoya truly had a way with words so that even a simple sentence could contain a multitude of meanings. It was a good skill to have in the world they would enter as adults, and even at mere high school level, considering that their high school was so elite.

Mori preferred action though. Words were not his forte. Yes, he could sting together a pretty sentence, but he felt odd doing so. Besides, he didn't need words with Honey, his cousin simply understood him. Plus Honey was quite happy to talk away, they complimented each other nicely if he did say so himself.

The gondola came to a stop, and the doors slid open. The group quickly exited the boxy transportation and Honey proceeded to scramble up to settle himself on Mori's shoulders.

Kyoya walked forward to lady who had come to welcome them, exchanging pleasantries before waving at the others to follow him.

"Do you think they will have sweets Takashi?" Honey asked as they group made their way inside the cozy looking resort.

Mori nodded and he felt the corner of lip tug up slightly into something of a smile as he felt his cousin bounce against his shoulders, "I really hope so. We haven't been able to have any sweets since breakfast! That means it been 7 hours! Why couldn't we have any sweets with lunch? I mean, lunch was very yummy of course, but no sweets! How could they do that? But that's okay, because now we are going to have sweets, and sweets, and sweets! But don't worry Takashi, I won't eat all of them. I promise!"

"Good."

Honey giggled happily and settled into a comfortable calm and they observed their friends. The twins jumped around Haruhi and Tamaki, teasing the the blonde while Haruhi merely watched placidly. Kyoya was listening to the hostess and then announced that they would all be escorted to their rooms to clean up before heading out in thirty minutes to go for a hike.

Honey clambered off his cousin's shoulders and skipped away, Mori followed along while silently observing the interior. It was a rather small place considering it was owned by the Ootori family but nice nevertheless. Wooden walls and floors with bright flowers here and forest-colored rugs there. Simple yet elegant light structures hung from overhead or were fixed to the walls. They were not being used though because the numerous windows provided more than enough daylight to brighten the place.

It did not take long to find everyone's rooms, all in the same hallway and if not next to one another than just merely across the hall. The rooms were plainly furnished, reminding the black haired kendo champion of Haruhi's home actually. Two simple beds, a bathroom, and a television. Though they wouldn't have time to use much it though, knowing his friends, Mori knew that there was little chance of the Host Club members actually spending much time in the rooms other than sleeping.

A half an hour went by quickly and they were back outside, geared up and ready for a hike.

"Where is our guide at Kyoya-senpai?" Haruhi asked as they began to walk away from the resort.

"I am your guide for today Haruhi, so please do follow closely because I do not plan on stopping for those that lag behind."

Haruhi sweat dropped and Honey laughed, skipping over to her side and assuring her, "Don't worry Haru-chan, Kyo-chan seems to know where he's going. And if you get too tired Takashi can carry you. Right Takashi?"

"Yes."

"See! So there's nothing to worry about!" Honey chirped.
Haruhi looked unconvinced, but she followed along anyways. Any unease she had forgotten when the twins and Tamaki quickly preoccupied her.

Honey fell back to join his cousin and commented, "It is a bit odd that Kyo-chan didn't bring a guide. I suppose that means means he knows this place well..."

Takashi nodded in agreement and began to listen as his cousin rambled on about the weather and when they'd be back for dinner - for he still hadn't gotten to eat any sweets sot hat meant he was going on almost eight hours without having something of sugary subsistence - what kind of desert they might have...

Mori paused, when he heard something.

"What is it Takashi?"

He cocked his head to the side, listening more closely, and there it was...the sound of a hurt animal. He turned to look his cousin in the eyes.

Honey nodded, "Go and help it. Will you be able to find your way back?"

A nod.

"Okay! Have fun Takashi! I'll stay with the group."

Mori gave another nod before he took off at a jog, faintly hearing Haruhi question where he was going, he could not hear Honey's reply, already to far away. There was an animal that needed his help.

His feet quickly carried him to where he needed to be to see a fawn, its hoof stuck it a twisted root, most likely from when the little creature was trying to reach its way up the tree only to fall back down...

He didn't question what happened but instead waited a moment as the fawn freeze, sensing the predator. He waited patiently for the timid creature to settle down and it took a bit longer than usual, but nevertheless the animal began to turn its attention from the silent human to its captured hoof. He came up slowly, making sure the fawn did not get too scared. Gently he reached out and petted the soft fur, slowly, steadily until the tense muscles relaxed beneath his hand. His hands then slid gently down the front leg, making his way so that he could carefully tug out the shy animal's hoof.

It did not take long of his tender administrations before the hoof was free. The little fawn seemed content to be loved on now that it knew this human was not a threat. It actually felt rather good to be loved on.

Mori continued to stroke the coarse but smooth fur while he wondered how he was going to get back to the others. He had told Honey that he would be able to make his way back. Now that he looked around him, he wasn't quite so sure about that anymore.

"So, you are the one."
Mori's head snapped up in surprise, though it did not show on his face, and saw a girl walking towards him.
Her feet were bare, and her skin tan from days in the sun, body in top physical condition. Her hair - the color of the silver moon - was held back in a braid, but even that could not hold the many stray pieces from framing her heart shaped face. Gray eyes meet black.
She continued to approach towards him, her eyes watching him with startling clarity as though she could see into the core of his being.
She stopped before him and the fawn; Mori watched in fascination as the deer leaned in towards her, desiring her touch. He had not met anyone else that was like him, that the animals came to. The little creature did not even seem to hesitate, whether it was from the innocent thought that humans must not be bad or because of the girl herself, Mori was not sure.
"You are with the others, am I correct? The blondes, the twins, the brown headed one and Kyoya-sama?"
He nodded.
"Very well, follow me. You've strayed quite far off the path."
Mori stood, patted the deer in goodbye and followed as the girl turned around to walk off.

They didn't talk, he just trailed along after her in a very similar manner as to how he followed Honey. He did not let his mind wander though because even though she seemed to know Kyoya and seemed to have seen the rest of his group he could not be sure what to make of everything in this forest. Though he was thankful that at least he had been found.
Perhaps ten or fifteen minutes later they miraculously came upon his friends.
"Mori!" "Mori!" "Takashi!" "Mori!"
He gave a small smile as he saw the others rush towards him, Honey instantly jumping and clinging to him as Tamaki and the twins walloped him with hugs and Haruhi telling him how glad she was he was found.
Kyoya on the other hand had his attention on the guide.


I can't wait to introduce our new character in the next chapter!

Hope you enjoyed. Please review! :D