Author's Note: Greetings, darling readers! K-chan here, with a cute little short story involving everyone's favorite twin mischief-makers and their True Confessions love interest, Rin Tamashīzaki! I began this story over six months ago when a massive storm blew through. It inspired me to write what would happen if the weather became so bad that the Hosts would be stuck spending the night at Ouran Academy – hence the result! XD

This is more of a stand-alone story, though it takes place during the True Confessions storyline; however, it has no impact on that story whatsoever. For those of you who haven't read True Confessions, Rin is a newcomer to Ouran by way of a scholarship, and is hiding her gender for personal reasons. During her stay, she's forced to join the Host Club (by means of careful persuasion *coughblackmailcough*) and inadvertently gains attentions from the Hitachiin twins.

Let me know what you all think! Remember: All questions, comments, constructive criticism, and/or suggestions are welcome!

Disclaimer: I do not own anything from Ouran HSHC. I just like to write. ^_^

Enjoy!

Under the Cover of Darkness
By Kuroneko

Part 1: Stuck for the Night

The loud bang of thunder interrupted the announcement, causing the intercom to crackle. Rin Tamashīzaki gave her friend an affectionate squeeze around the shoulders to prevent the cross-dressed student from freaking out entirely. She glanced over and found Haruhi Fujioka giving her a weak smile in return, her hands pressing Hikaru's headphones firmly over her ears to drown out the noise.

'Just like poor little Mi-chan,' Rin thought with a sigh. She could only wonder how that little sister of hers was currently faring. Like as not, Aunt Tomoe and Uncle Kenichi had checked the bouncy raven-haired girl out early before the typhoon cut loose.

'That's what happens when you're the favorite…'

"And because the weather's going to be like this for the next twenty-four hours, it's been decided that no student will be going home this evening. Instead, you'll all be spending the night at the academy," Yuzuru Suoh's voice said pleasantly. "Sorry guys. Have fun, though!"

Rin let out a groan as several others in Class 2-A cheered. Spending the night at Ouran Academy was the last thing she needed right now. She had two cats to worry about and a friend out on the streets.

'I sure hope Yamanouchi has a place to stay tonight,' she thought worriedly, looking out past the rivulets of water streaking down the window. 'He's tough, but I don't want him out in this weather. Maybe if I leave a message with Masaaki, he'll let him know I'm okay. He's got a house key, after all. And I don't want Patches and Perry to be alone…'

The thought of her precious kitties alone in her rickety old house without their "Mommy" sent a jolt up her spine. She couldn't leave them all alone! Even if they'd known Yama-kun for most of their lives, they wouldn't stay calm until Rin was home!

"Hey, Rin?" she looked down and found Haruhi frowning. "Are you okay?"

"It's my cats," she admitted quietly, sitting back down in the seat in front of her fellow cross-dresser. "Patches and Perry are scared of thunder and lightning, and there isn't anyone to take care of them. I think I should go home."

"Go home?" two voices exclaimed in horror. Rin cringed. Who else but Hikaru and Kaoru Hitachiin would try to invade her privacy?

"I can't leave my kitties home alone!" she insisted, folding her arms. "It's about as bad as child abandonment!"

"Uh-huh. And that justifies likely getting yourself impaled by a flying tree branch?" Hikaru said, his voice dripping with sarcasm. Lightning cracked again, illuminating his handsome features briefly before the room returned to its dimness.

Rin scowled. She knew he was right – it was suicide to walk home in weather like this! But, still…

"Alright, everyone! Could I have your attention up here for just a sec?" The classroom fell silent as Imori-sensei, their Algebra instructor, waved at them after getting off his cell phone. Once he saw the many sets of eyes on him, he continued.

"I just got speaking with the Headmaster and the administration," he explained. "They've gone over the impromptu sleeping arrangements, and just told us how we'll be doing things."

"I sure hope they don't expect us to sleep in the classroom," Kaoru said with a frown. The other three nodded in agreement, Rin fervently. Ever since joining the Host Club, she'd discovered on multiple occasions how obsessed the female teen could get when it came to being led by hormones alone.

And there was one girl in particular – Chisa Katagiri – who'd been asking for Rin ever more frequently than before. The girl was a relentless irritation, and had been caught trying to follow Rin home once. If it hadn't been for Yamanouchi's intervention, Rin's identity of a legitimate member of the female gender would have been exposed and her cover blown out of the water. Since the incident a week ago, Kyoya had placed surveillance on Chisa by means of his family's own police force. So far, Rin was safe going home.

Seeing the girl trying to throw flirtatious glances in her direction now, however, Rin would only speculate if the safety net extended to within the walls of Ouran.

"They've decided to divvy it up according to the clubs you're associated with," Imori-sensei continued. "For example, the book club will be sleeping in Library #4 and the European History Club will be in Tadachi-sensei's classroom. Those of you who are in more than one club, it's advised that you go with the club that has more members of your own gender. The rest of you who aren't in a club will be in your homeroom classroom."

Rin very nearly sighed in relief. From all of the darned girl's spouting and ranting about herself, Rin knew that Chisa was just a Host Club groupie and didn't belong anywhere. Music Room #3 and Chisa's homeroom class were nowhere near each other – in fact they were two floors apart!

But then there was this new problem – she was going to spend the night in Music Room #3. In other words, she'd be sharing makeshift sleeping quarters with not only Haruhi but the boys.

The very thought made Rin want to reconsider not going out in the typhoon. Mori-sempai and Honey-sempai were scheduled to come by today, which was alright; the two of them were quite nice, and Rin could trust them to keep to themselves. Tamaki Suoh was a bit of an idiot, but at least he'd make sure nothing improper happened. And if he didn't, Kyoya Ōtori would.

Rin shuddered. Kyoya-sempai had that effect on her. The idea of sleeping in the same vicinity as the Shadow King made her skin crawl.

But there was another problem, one probably a bit more pressing than sleeping across the room from the bespectacled third son of the feared Ōtori clan. The name of the problem? Hitachiin. Specifically, Hikaru and Kaoru Hitachiin. Her touchy, feely, clingy twin classmates; both of whom found great enjoyment in pulling her into some form of physical contact and watching her try to keep up with her façade. It was normally no small feat for Rin to brush aside handsome charmers, but Hikaru and Kaoru had the uncanny ability to toss it all out the window and make the disguised girl flounder to keep her head on straight.

'And I'm going to be sleeping in the same room as those two…' She felt her heart drop into her stomach.

Lightning flashed and thunder cracked, the classroom lighting up vividly before plunging into darkness. Several people screamed, Haruhi and the twins included. Rin couldn't help but let out her own little surprised scream in the darkness as three sets of arms grabbed onto her. She knew the arms around her arm definitely belonged to Haruhi: the two girls had become quite good friends, and Rin knew exactly how the brunette reacted to thunderstorms. But the arms around her waist and the other pair around her neck definitely belonged to Hikaru and Kaoru. Rin knew that curious mixture of wintergreen, cinnamon, and cologne from anywhere, having been exposed to it so often.

Haruhi let out a squeak and instinctively hugged tighter to Rin's arm as another clap of thunder roared, this time shaking the building. Rin thought her arm would fall off.

Just then, the lights flickered back on, revealing that the four youngest Host Club members weren't the only ones to have instinctively latched onto someone else. Even the stalker Chisa had been startled into grabbing the girl in front of her.

Rin cast a glance over to Haruhi, seeing the brunette squeezing her eyes shut. Hikaru's headphones were askew on her head, and the poor girl had tears leaking from her eyes. Rin reached over and gripped her friend's clenched hands tightly. Haruhi only clung tighter.

Sighing inwardly, Rin turned her attention to the twins. This turned out to be rather difficult, as Kaoru was hugging her neck and had his head buried in her lengthening hair; Hikaru was the one hugging her by the waist, and was very nearly in her lap.

Rin cleared her throat loudly, causing the two to jolt. Chuckling nervously, the twins let go. Lightning flashed again, causing everyone around her to scream once more.

It was going to be a long night.